What did Robert Hooke look like
There are no know portraits of Robert Hooke in existence. in the 19th Centaury and image was installed in a stained glass window of St. Helens Church, Bishopgate, London. This was destroyed by a bomb blast in the 1970's. In the county Record Office on the Isle of Wight there is a document to which is affixed Hooke's seal. This has an image which may be his likeness.
Two detailed descriptions of his appearance are on record :-
"He is but of middling stature, something crooked, pale faced, and his but little below, but his head is large: hie eie full and popping, and not quick: a grey eie. He has a delicate head of haire browne, and of an excellent moist curle. He is and ever was temperate and moderate in dyet." "As to his person he was but despicable, being very crooked, tho I have heard from himself, and others, that he was strait till about 16 years of age when he first grew awry, by frequent practicing, with a Turn-Lath... He was always very pale and lean, and latterly nothing but skin and bone, with a meager aspect, his eyes grey and full, with sharp ingenious look whilst younger: his nose but thin, of a moderate height and length: his mouth meanly wise, and upper lip thin: his chin sharp, and forehead large: his head of a middle size. He wore his own hair of a dark brown colour, very long and hanging neglected over his face uncut and lank, which about three years before his death he cutoff and wore a periwig. He went stooping and very fast, having but a light body to carry, and a great deal of spirits and activity, especially in his youth. He was of an active, restless, indefatigable genus, even almost to the last, and always slept little to his death, oftenest continuing his studies all night, and taking a short nap in the day. His temper was melancholy, mistrustful, and jealous, which more increases upon him with his years. The artist Rita Greer has used the above descriptions to create Hooke's likeness in the portraits describing events in his live. To see more of Rita Greer's portraits of Robert Hooke visit www.roberthooke.org
