Sir William Osler portrait unveiling at 13 Norham Gardens

On the 26 January, the centenary of Sir William Osler‘s death on 29th December 1919 was commemorated with a presentation and unveiling of a new portrait of Sir William Osler at his former residence, 13 Norham Gardens. Sir William Osler acquired the premises of 13 Norham Gardens in 1907, two years after his appointment to the Regius Professorship of Medicine. It thus became the home in Oxford of one of the greatest physicians, and a meeting place and source of inspiration for medical students, physicians, scientists and academic visitors. Under Osler’s stewardship it became known as ‘The Open Arms’.

The portrait was commissioned and funded by Professor Charles S. Bryan who generously donated it to 13 Norham Gardens, and who unveiled it at the event with a welcome from Principal Denise Lievesley. Charles is Heyward Gibbes Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine Emeritus at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, where he served as chair of the Department of Medicine and director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities. His writings mainly concern infectious diseases, medical history, and medical biography.

The artist, Tarleton Blackwell, based his portrait of William Osler on a 1913 photograph taken at Johns Hopkins. Blackwell’s interpretation draws upon descriptions of Osler and previous portraits.

With thanks to Emeritus Fellow Professor Terence Ryan who devoted much time and energy to these commemorations.