William Herschel discovered NGC 4131 = H III-356 = h1098, along with NGC 4132 and 4134 on 11 Apr 1785 (sweep 396) and recorded the trio as "Three, the time and number belongs to the largest [NGC 4134] which is F, irregular. I suspect a fourth, but could not stay to ascertain it, though I am pretty sure. The other two are vF, S, mE." John Herschel made two observations, the first on 31 Mar 1827 (sweep 66).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/20/93): fairly faint, small, fairly high surface brightness, elongated 2:1 ~E-W, small prominent core, stellar nucleus. Located 4.0' NE of a mag 10.5 star. First of three on a line and second brightest with NGC 4132 4.5' SE and NGC 4134 9' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb