Nathaniel E. Green
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Everett Green (August 21, 1823 – November 10, 1899) was an English
painter
, art teacher and astronomer
. He professionally painted landscapes and portraits, and also gained fame with his drawings of planets.
Born in Bristol
, his interest in astronomy
dated from 1859 when he built a telescope for himself. He produced "soft-pencil" drawings of Mars
in 1877, which were widely known. Shortly after drawing them, he was the first to suggest that canals on Mars were an optical illusion
.
In 1880 he was called to Balmoral
and taught art to some members of the Royal family including Queen Victoria
.
He was founding member of the British Astronomical Association
(BAA) and its president from 1897–1898.
A crater on Mars was named in his honor.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, art teacher and astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
. He professionally painted landscapes and portraits, and also gained fame with his drawings of planets.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, his interest in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
dated from 1859 when he built a telescope for himself. He produced "soft-pencil" drawings of Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in 1877, which were widely known. Shortly after drawing them, he was the first to suggest that canals on Mars were an optical illusion
Optical illusion
An optical illusion is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source...
.
In 1880 he was called to Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
and taught art to some members of the Royal family including Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
He was founding member of the British Astronomical Association
British Astronomical Association
The British Astronomical Association is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.-Function:It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
(BAA) and its president from 1897–1898.
A crater on Mars was named in his honor.