Danny Vendramini's Charles Darwin page



A  PICTORIAL  BIOGRAPHY  OF  CHARLES  DARWIN

5:  FINAL YEARS
1  2  3  4  
 

I have no great quickness of apprehension or wit which is so remarkable in some clever men..




fr3  
Etchings (L&R) based on photographs taken at Down House in 1880.

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                                      Darwin's globe, Down House.                              
  
                 
                                                                                             
oval               sandwaLK
The 'Sandwalk' behind Down House, where Darwin strolled three times a day, ruminating on his theories.
           

..my success as a man of science, whatever  this may have amounted to, has been determined, as far as I can judge, by complex and diversified mental qualities and conditions. Of these, the most important have been - the love of science - unbounded patience in long reflecting over any subject - industry in observing and collecting  facts - and a fair share of invention as well as of common sense. With such moderate abilities as I possess, it is truly surprising that I should have influenced to a considerable extent the belief of  scientific men on some important points.
                                      
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                                           'The light side' of the Sandwalk, which opens onto farm land.
      
                                                  

Head of Ateles marginatus.   From 'Descent of Man.' 1871                   








       

My personal 1887 edition of The Descent of Man, published by John Murray, London.

1872  .  'The expression of the emotions in man and animals.' 

Astride 'Tommy' at Down House.  on_horse  Late 1870s.

           
I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon  as the facts are shown to be opposed to it.

Orchids.     Illustration from 'The movements and habits of climbing plants.',  1875.

d8     The fine 1881 portrait in oils by John Collier was commissioned
by the Linnean Society to honour Darwin. Several copies were made. One now hangs in the
National Portrait Gallery, London, another at Down House.


 The Collier portrait etched by Leopold Flameng. 

    d4  1882                            
                                                                                                                                    The 'dark side' of the Sandwalk.

 

 Darwin's last book -  

 'The formation of vegetable mould : through the action of worms,  with observations on their habits.' 1881.

    
Some of my critics have said, "Oh, he is a good observer, but he has no power of reasoning!" I do not think  that this can be true, for the 'Origin of Species' is one long argument from the beginning to the end, and it has convinced not a few able men.



              

                     
          
    
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I believe this to be the last portrait of Charles Darwin

   Darwin died in April, 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
               
     
 
                                                                                                             

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