Bromide print of Pastel Portrait of Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), astronomer, in the possession of the Rev. Sir J.F.W. Herschel Bart

This photograph shows an original pastel drawing by John Russell of Sir William Herschel, dated 1794. The portrait is composed to celebrate Herschel's discovery of the planet Uranus. Famous overnight, he was transformed from an obscure musician to a celebrity for uncovering the first new planet since Antiquity. Herschel is shown holding a strip of paper labelled, 'The Georgian Planets with its satellites'. Appointed royal astronomer by George III, he acknowledged his royal patron by naming the new planet, 'Georgium Sidus' (Georgian Star). Against his will the name was later dropped in favour of Uranus. A figure from Greek mythology, Uranus was the first king of the gods whose sons included Cronos or Saturn of Roman myths.