Portrait of a Genius: The Extraordinary Story of Francis Williams

[@kaybeede]

Fascinating. I was gripped by the whole lecture. True history brought to life. Should definitely be televised as a lesson in history and heritage.

[@johnvreede832]

This is a historian at his best. A person's reputation recovered and a 1st class detective story.

[@anhumblemessengerofthelawo3858]

an historian

[@bellepierre24]

The H is not silent in history and/or historian hence it’s "a historian” as the H retains its consonant sound like words such as house, home, handsome, etc. In the case of words with a silent H such as hour and honour, an is correct. Do look it up. But of course you may pronounce historian "istorian", in that case, an it is.

[@johnvreede832]

​@@bellepierre24 I just wrote what sounded right, 'a historian'. I knew about 'an hotel' but not why. The English habit of dropping their 'h' s makes the first sound a vowel so 'an 'otel' as in 'an apple'. Thanks Belle - jv

[@andrewjohnson8232]

​@@johnvreede832 As already pointed out, you are entirely correct. It is "hi" not "i", therefore: A History of the Roman Empire not An History...

[@jamesburgess9101]

Quite definitely the best thing I've watched on KZbin in years

[@alfiecdyson]

Honestly, this was a stunning lecture. Was moved to tears by the end!

[@avrilhay8281]

Interesting, what made you cry🥲

[@andrewjohnson8232]

​@@avrilhay8281 Probably the fact that people ask questions like that.

[@sararichardson737]

@@avrilhay8281crude racism.

[@geoffreywilliams9324]

One can only congratulate Fara Dabhoiwalla for such a rich and interesting presentation . .

[@janeobrien3578]

Appreciate the rigorous scholarship and spirit of joy in seeking and finding the truth about Francis William, his world, our world. 💫

[@ashleyswu2012]

I'm 12 minutes in and I can't tell you how exciting listening to and watching this is. There is a magical weave to the story being told that is utterly mesmerizing to me. We can sense the speaker's excitement, and now, the revelation that his examination of the ultra high def scans brought the greatest discoveries of his professional life is thrilling.

[@indexfinisher]

I can't wait to share this lecture with everyone I know. I was gripped from the first minute to the end. History, science, politics, drama and inspiration, this lecture had everything. Can't wait to visit The V&A now.

[@Cyallaire]

I heard him mention the V&A and gathered it’s some art museum in London. What does it stand for? Thanks.

[@indexfinisher]

@Cyallaire The Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

[@Cyallaire]

@ Thanks again!

[@debbiedouglas8125]

Thanks for a very impressive presentation on an African Jamaican. When I was growing up in Jamaica, I could not find any positive history of Africans. This is excellent!

[@777educated]

Know that our ancestors were fierce. They were intelligent and did more than others. However, our history was not written by us but for us. We should write our OWN history.

[@mikesmith7107]

@@777educatedshould BUT YOU DON’T!

[@AnneNovelly]

An incredible lecture! Many thanks for sharing the research. 👏🏾👏🏾💐

[@paulee7779]

Amazing work, thank you Fara Dabhoiwala . This would make an intriguing film or documentary - had me quite emotional at the end 👏👏👏

[@vanshikakataruka2035]

I read the article right now. I always used to wonder why people spend millions on a painting? its just a painting, it doesnt signify anything.. now I finally what art signifies. It signifies societal problems at a time, it shows the perspective of the person drwaing it. it shoes the self perception of the person being drawn. the article was so well written that I could not stop reading. It was extraordinary

[@isabt4]

Wow! Thank you for your research and brilliant presentation! How very ironic and just, that the painting survived due to the very person inventing his small minded myth about Francis Williams. And then along comes Fara Dabhoiwala with his magnificent work, to unveil the truth about Williams’ genius. Absolutely fascinating history! ❤ So satisfying to see justice prevail!

[@davidnikoloff3211]

Thank you for posting this. Fascinating scholarship that tells a story that needs to be told.

[@davidhernandez4318]

WoW, good Lord! A magnificent lecture! Thank you Professor!

[@docfarl]

Thank you. For your service to humanity, through this vigorous rendering of historical truth.

[@MARiordan]

What an absolutely fascinating and informative talk! Thank you very much.

[@permanenttrack]

Excellent lecture. Thank you for sharing.

[@johnhughes1276]

Excellent detective work and storytelling. This story could be a key to easing many current qualms.

[@duncanbleak3819]

Excellent, informative and revealing lecture.

[@fracturedopal]

This was such a beautiful and restrained article, look forward to watching this.

[@shortattentionspantheatre5075]

Stunningly brilliant exegesis, Bravo to the scholarly treatment of a forgotten---alas, not any longer---brilliant humane being, albeit Francis Williams owned slaves, a periodic irony.

[@MJC22.03]

That was a truly beautiful and thoughtful expose of history, science and mathematics - Art life colourful

[@tedgebregzi3832]

Thank you very much,very educative.

[@paddyrafter5214]

Well done. Fantastic lecture

[@enviro42]

Well worth a watch! Entertaining and educational.

[@avrilhay8281]

Very well researched, thorough. Gripping

[@depalans6740]

Brilliant, kept me rivetted

[@wordsmovepoetry]

Stellar! Astounding! Bravo to you for your pursuit of intellectual truth and integrity ❤👏

[@stybbamo]

Marvelous, thank you!

[@dsjwhite]

Thank you. A wonderful, exciting and moving detective story. Wow!

[@cynthiarowley719]

Truly enlightening 🎉❤

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@easyrawlins2392]

Very good presentation. Thank you 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@FirstPost5]

I concur with others' comments regarding the quality of this analysis and d the absolutely fascinating details Mr. Dabhoiwala has graciously presented. It is most impressive and totally entertaining.

[@TheVigilantEye77]

The infinite capacity for taking pains. Those drawings calculations and tables !

[@Clyne-sv4hd]

Very very good 👏

[@ceebee2731]

So proud of my ancestors, thank you professor the 🇯🇲

[@NSBarnett]

Excellently constructed talk . . . riveting! A question: his right hand is clearly pointing to the bookcase, or to one book. Why didn't you mention this and what you think it means?

[@sararichardson737]

I greatly appreciate your bringing this subject to our attention.

[@casamurphy]

Thank you for this lecture.

[@eleghari]

WOW!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@jackgreene5663]

Fabulous!

[@EyeByBrian]

Brilliant. 👏🏻

[@mabsaunders402]

I was impressed so glad I watched

[@mikemurray2027]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@phunchurchgirl]

The extent of Long's lie reached far beyond the reputation of a single man and a practice still in use today

[@avrilhay8281]

The length they went to to justify wickedness . Hence to this day they are well and truly embedded in lies parading as reality. Not a good place to be. Sad

[@1964_AMU]

The best reportage on an 18th Century portrait ever made.

[@denisebrown2994]

Hats off to this historian and his prestigious work. As a Jamaican Observing this lecture induces shivers in me. This research emphasises the evidence of the comprehensive knowledge that black individuals possess and their diligent efforts to demonstrate it. Additionally, it offers evidence that the more white individuals attempt to deny prejudice and the structure that has been established by British society, the less they succeed in achieving their objective. Throughout history, white individuals have consistently endeavoured to undermine the intellectual foundations and fabric of black individuals as we progress. Still we rise

[@TheVigilantEye77]

Awesome

[@timbott22]

Stunning. Gobsmacking

[@jansteinvonsquidmeirsteen2256]

Bravo.

[@laidman2007]

In the 1755 Mohawk painting, the artist understood how to paint hands but not in the 1758 or 1760 paintings. However, by 1766 the artist again knew how to paint hands. The huge technical leap between 1760 and 1766 seems improbable. I believe the same artist, but not William Williams, made the paintings dated 1758 and 1760 and that Williams painted the Mohawk painting and those of 1766 and after. Ask some painters who understand anatomy, proportion, and foreshortening. I'm sure they'll confirm what I'm saying here. Regardless, of who made the Francis Williams painting, this was an intelligent and well-thought-out video. I enjoyed it immensely.

[@kinsleypeart]

As Jamaican this is first am hearing about this man ..wow

[@ỌforNaOgu-q6n]

Interesting... Very interesting on multiple dimensions.

[@johnvreede832]

I just wrote what sounded right, 'a historian'. 'An hotel' I knew. but not why. The English habit of dropping their 'h' s makes the first sound a vowel so it's 'an hotel' as in 'an apple'. Thankyou

[@mikaelwester]

Maybe, KZbin by default doesn’t need to make us dumber?

[@lovingyaru]

Love! I would go further and suggest he was a freemason like Duke John of Mantagu. Hints: The checkered floor, the trinity knot and the othee freemasonic symbols

[@davidnikoloff3211]

Good observations. This lecture and these observations cause me to question why I failed to spend more time and effort trying to understand more about the art I have seen?

[@jansteinvonsquidmeirsteen2256]

absolutely. my thought exactly.

[@nemolibrizzi1125]

He is pointing at something, at one of the books? Which book.

[@dwdewhurst]

This should be disseminated massively more widely.

[@crazystarwarsguy1006]

I wonder how the portrait fell into the hands of Long.

[@louisesamchapman6428]

The Curtain behind Mr Williams, which is pulled back to reveal his great knowledge, is held there by a Golden Cord that sweeps in and forms an elliptical knot of a problem above everyone's head but who's solution is pointed to below under Francis' able hand ! And what of the Black and White Tiles covering the Floor ? The Globe of the Earth sits Equally upon the intersection of Four Tiles, Two Black and Two White ! Well attired in black and white elements, Francis himself Stands Equally upon a Meeting line of Both these Colours ! A Successful Man of Both these Worlds and that of the Heavens !

[@TracyPicabia]

Really interesting and quite gripping lecture. Horrendous racism in 18th 19th and 20th c academia! Who knew? Having had a look at (admittedly only photographic images of) William Williams attributed paintings it is very very hard to believe that he was capable of producing one as bad as this portrait. Even the Benjamin Ley one, which does have some naive aspects, looks, at least in reproduction, much much more accomplished. Especially the background.

[@SDBOGLE]

There were no West Africans in Jamaica!. West African Bantu people speaks 680 different languages and its impossible for millions of West Africans or any group of people at such large mass as claimed, to be on such a small island and not one evidence has ever been presented that showed the existence of any of these languages were ever spoken by anyone enslaved in Jamaica or any west indian island or America. There is a religious practice in Jamaica that they all claimed is African and it’s called “Pocomania” The word Poco is Italian word that means small portions and the word Mania is latin for madness. How is it that an Italian word and an Latin word is used by Africans to described their religion? The Maroons who they said were always or mostly free people, yet all gave their children European Names for centries, and no African names exist within any census done on Marroon Towns in Jamaica. Explain how is that the British Industrial Revolution actually began in Morant Bay Jamaica by black people? who taught them this knowledge? who taught the “English how to cultivate Tobacco, Sugarcane, cotton, Rum from sugarcane and Indigo. The manufacturing, curing, and maintainace of the highest technology of the time, when prior to this, they never done such cultivation in England, nor had the technology to do so in England?

[@kinsleypeart]

Am also from Spanish Town

[@terencenxumalo1159]

interesting

[@jessieadore]

It’s so exhausting how these things are never taken seriously until someone with a british accent says it.

[@maggieadams8600]

I think the people keeping it hidden in the first place had British accents. A certain British accent, not a working class one that much is certain.

[@phdesmond1]

woo hoo!

[@Peace-tr6lf]

Meticulously uncovering of intentionally buried historical facts ! Very well done research ! The fact of the matter is ancient philosophy and science had its origins in Middle East and Africa and certainly people with all colors, Europeans should stop thinking like children that they were the first, now say sorry and lets move on !

[@dirksteinkrug3499]

Wonderful story beautifully presented. Shame about the snide, unsubstantiated, wokist reference that the Society has an issue because the first black man was only admitted in 2023. Admission isn't handed out willy nilly. Perhaps the presenter should back up his scurrilous claim by pointing to the papers of those African scientist who deserved admission but were denied. I'm not necessarily saying the papers aren't there, but if the presenter makes such a charge, he should back it up.

[@joel2421]

Did you not watch the video? He literally did just that.

[@dirksteinkrug3499]

@@joel2421 Of course I watched it all. He implied that the Society still has a problem in todays era because the first African scientist wasn't admitted until 2023. That's the scurrilous bit. You can't say someone was denied entry 200 years ago, so they must still be racist today because no one had been admitted since. Show me the work of the African scientists that were denied entry to the Society on the basis of their skin colour in the last 50 years if you want me to believe the Society is racist today.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Neat story, but only 5% of this presentation is actually about the painting. The rest is just singing the praises of other people that actually made accomplishments and contributions to the Academy. A DEI-inspired puff piece positively swimming in White Liberal Guilt. Yawn.

[@easyrawlins2392]

Very good presentation. Thank you 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾