York virtuosi

The York Virtuosi was a informal group of antiquarians, artists and natural philosophers who gathered initially around Martin Lister (1639-1712) in York between 1670 and 1683.

The were "at the height of their powers" towards the end of the century (Maldon:43), and in this group may be seen the roots of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society (f.1822) which followed the example of newly founded societies in Leeds, Sheffield and Hull which made the editor of the York Courant lament the slowness of the gentlemen of York to follow their example.

Lister was a Fellow of the Royal Society and eventually became its vice-president,

In the group may be counted

• Martin Lister (c.1638-1712), zooligist
• Ralph Thoresby (16580-1725), antiquarian and topographer
• Henry Gyles (1645-1709) the glass painter;
• Thomas Mann maker of compasses and waywisers
• Joshua Mann, his brother
• the topographical artists Francis Place (1647-1728), who had apartments in the King’s Manor, and
• William Lodge (1649-1689)
• John Lambert (c.1640-1701)
• the French painter Jacques Parmentier (1658-1730)
• Thomas Kirke (1650-1706), mathematician
• John Etty (1634-1709), architect, whose memorial in All Saint's, North Street states "By strength of his own genius and application he had acquired great knowedge of Mathematicks, especially Geometry & Architecture in all its parts far beyond any of his co-tempores in the City".

On the periphery of the group were

• Moses Ashenden, physician
• James smith, (antiquarian), Henry Gyles's nephew
• George Plaxton, Rector of Barton in Elmet
• Miles Gale, Rector of Keighley
• Cyril Arthington, Rector of Adel[[ and an [[FRS.

See ...

• http://www.york.ac.uk/ipup/projects/york/stories/papers/akehurst.html
• Malden, R.J., 1985. Elusive virtuosi - Thomas and Joshua Mann. York Historian, 6, 43-55.