A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery
A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery is an 18th-century oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. Its full title is A Philosopher giving that Lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the Sun. The painting shows a teacher talking about the sun and planets to his class.[1] Wright later created his similar An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (National Gallery, London) in 1768.
| |
| Artist | Joseph Wright of Derby |
|---|---|
| Year | ca. 1766 |
| Dimensions | 147 cm × 203 cm (58 in × 80 in) |
| Location | Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, England |
Wright's The Orrery, caused a great debate, because in the past, only religious events were used to express awe. Wright used science to do so.[2] In an age of much new technology, he treated religious events and scientific miracles.[3] In the orrery demonstration, the shadows created by the lamp mimic the sun, and it is a part of the display of heliocentrism. He used a single candle to make his painting dramatic. In two later paintings, the lighting is normal.[4]
One person called Wright "a very great and uncommon genius in a peculiar way".[5] The Orrery was painted without payment. Wright expected that Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers, an amateur astronomer, will buy the painting, because Shirley had his own orrery, and Wright's friend Peter Perez Burdett was staying with him. Figures are considered to be portraits of Burdett and Ferrers. In the picture, Burdett is taking notes and Ferrers is seated with his son next to the orrery.[6] Ferrers purchased the painting for £210, but the 6th Earl sold it at an auction. It is now held by Derby Museum and Art Gallery as its permanent display.[7]
Some people say that John Whitehurst was the model for the teacher.[8] However, other people say the figure is similar to "a painting of Isaac Newton by Godfrey Kneller".[9]
Related pages
Notes
- ↑ "A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1764-1766)". Revolutionary Players. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ↑ Brooke 1991, p. 178
- ↑ Nicolson 1968, p. 40
- ↑ Egerton, 1998, 342
- ↑ Solkin 1994, p. 234
- ↑ Baird, 2003
- ↑ Uglow 2002, p. 123
- ↑ Nicolson, Benedict, Joseph Wright of Derby: painter of light, Taylor & Francis, 1968, ISBN 0-7100-6284-2
- ↑ Anonymous, "Art treasure - The Orrery" Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine, Derby City Council, accessed 2009-07-12
References
- Baird, Olga (2003). "Joseph Wright of Derby: Art, the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution". Revolutionary Players—Museums, Libraries and Archives—West Midlands. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
- Brooke, John Hedley (1991). Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives (Cambridge Studies in the History of Science). Cambridge University Press. p. 434. ISBN 0-521-28374-4.
- Egerton, Judy (1990). Wright of Derby. Tate Gallery. p. 296. ISBN 1-85437-037-5.
- Egerton, Judy (1998), National Gallery Catalogues (new series): The British School. catalogue entry pp. 332–343, ISBN 1-85709-170-1
- Elliott, Paul (1 January 2000). "The Birth of Public Science in the English Provinces: Natural Philosophy in Derby, c. 1690–1760". Annals of Science. 57 (1): 61–100. doi:10.1080/000337900296308. S2CID 145603120.
- Guilding, Ruth, and others, William Weddell and the transformation of Newby Hall, Jeremy Mills Publishing for Leeds Museums and Galleries, 2004, ISBN 0-901981-69-9, 9780901981691, Google books
- Jones, Jonathan (1 November 2003). "Yes, it is art". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
- Kimmelman, Michael (7 September 1990). "Review/Art; In Praise of a Neglected Painter of His Time". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
- Nicolson, Benedict (1968). Joseph Wright of Derby. The Paul Mellon Foundation for British Art Pantheon Books.
- Uglow, Jenny (2002). The Lunar Men. London: Faber and Faber. p. 588. ISBN 0-571-19647-0.
- Waterhouse, Ellis, (4th Edn, 1978) Painting in Britain, 1530–1790. Penguin Books (now Yale History of Art series), ISBN 0-300-05319-3