James Nasmyth

Summary

Bust-length portrait of James Nasmyth (1808-1890), which has perhaps been cut out of a book or magazine, as it is a slightly blurred reproduction of an etching of the portrait of Nasmyth by Sir George Reid. The surface of the image has a silvery bloom, and is in a card mount, hand-lettered with its title, 'JAMES NASYMTH: INVENTOR OF THE STEAM HAMMER'. The steam hammer was a celebrated invention of the industrial revolution. Nasmyth is seen in old age. He sits facing to the right, with his head slightly tilted forward, so that he regards the viewer from beneath contracted brows.