Royal Observatory Greenwich Drawings and Paintings : Drawing of George Biddell Airy at work at Kensal Green Cemetery
Royal Observatory Greenwich Drawings and Paintings
<p style='text-align: justify;'>Pencil drawing showing the Astronomer Royal, George Airy, directing experiments to measure the impact of railway vibrations on mercurial astronomical observations. The woman seated behind George (marked 'E.S') is Elizabeth Smith, his sister-in-law through his marriage to Richarda Smith. A note in Airy's hand states that the drawing is thought to be the work of either Elizabeth or Richarda ('Mrs Airy'). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> The drawing was kept in a volume of collected papers relating to the building and grounds of Greenwich, where it was attached to pages of printed correspondence by George Airy. For a drawing of Airy crossing the Front Court at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, see <a href='/view/'> (RGO 116/3/8)</a>.</p>