Sir Michael Foster

Collier's 1907 portrait of Sir Michael Foster (1836–1907) at the National Portrait Gallery documents one of the foundational figures of modern experimental physiology in Britain. Foster was the first professor of physiology at Cambridge, where he transformed the subject from a branch of anatomy into an experimental science, establishing the laboratory-based teaching methods that defined the discipline throughout the twentieth century. His textbook on physiology went through multiple editions and was translated into several languages. He was also a Liberal Unionist MP and Fellow of the Royal Society. Collier's connection to the world of science was not merely professional: as a committed rationalist and humanist, he genuinely admired figures who advanced empirical knowledge. His scientific portraits — which include Darwin, Huxley, and others — form a coherent body of work celebrating Victorian scientific culture. Foster died in the same year the portrait was completed, making this one of Collier's last opportunities for a life study. The National Portrait Gallery holds it as part of its collection of scientific and academic luminaries.

Oil on canvas with the careful, empathetic handling Collier reserved for sitters he personally admired. The face is modeled with attentive observation, capturing the intellectual alertness of an active scientific mind in the final year of his life. Academic dress and setting provide context without overwhelming the psychological focus.