348 LEEUWENHOEK AND HIS “ LITTLE ANIMALS ”’ 
a ridiculous biographical note (signed ‘“‘ Pagel’’) on its back. 
The original picture is therein hesitatingly attributed to 
“J. Veikolpe”’, and “Anton” van Leeuwenhoek is called a 
‘well-known precursor of Robert Koch, in so far as the 
discovery of the infusoria is due to him.” 
It seems obvious that Verkolje first made his portrait of 
Leeuwenhoek in oils, and shortly afterwards (in the same 
year) himself engraved it in mezzotinto. The artist evidently 
copied his own painting directly on to the copper plate (which 
accounts for the figure being reversed in the printed engraving), 
and in doing so made several minor alterations or improve- 
ments—appropriately substituting a microscope for the 
compasses originally held in the hand, but failing to notice 
that he ultimately made Leeuwenhoek appear left-handed ! 
The mezzotint by Verkolje is probably the best of all portraits 
of Leeuwenhoek: and that it was an excellent likeness is 
attested by the verses written on it by Const. Huygens. 
There are several references to this mezzotint by 
Leeuwenhoek himself in unpublished passages in his letters. 
Apparently the Royal Society wrote, about the beginning of 
1694, to ask him for his portrait. In his reply he says: ’ 
I haven't any of my pictures; and furthermore, the 
plate has been printed off, and the plate-maker, who was 
also the printer and painter,” is dead. But if I can get 
one at our approaching annual fair, at which time many 
art-dealers come to our town, I’ll not neglect to let you 
have what you ask for. 
Later in the same year he wrote again: ° 
I couldn’t find any copies of my portrait, in mezzotinto,* 
for sale by any of the printsellers at our annual fair: but 
at last ’'ve gotten six copies from a bookseller in another 
1 Translated from Letter of 26 May 1694. To R. Waller. MS.Roy.Soc. 
Unpublished. 
2 Referring to Verkolje, who died in the previous year. 
3 From Letter 84. 14 September 1694. To R. Waller. MS.Roy.Soe. 
Published in Dutch and Latin printed works, but with the passage here 
translated entirely omitted. Not in Phil. Trans. 
* inde swarte konst MS. 
