A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery |
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| Artist | Joseph Wright of Derby |
| Year | ca. 1766 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 147 cm × 203 cm (58 in × 80 in) |
| Location | Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, England |
A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery is a famous oil painting from the 1700s. It was created by the English artist Joseph Wright of Derby. The painting shows a teacher explaining how the sun and planets move to a group of people. This artwork is special because it shows the wonder of science.
Wright painted The Orrery around 1766. Two years later, he made another similar painting called An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. That painting is now in the National Gallery, London.
Contents
The Painting's Big Idea
Wright's painting, The Orrery, was very important for its time. Before this, artists usually showed religious events to create a feeling of wonder. But Wright used a scientific event to show how amazing the world is.
Science and Light in Art
The painting was made during a time when many new discoveries were happening. Wright wanted to show that science could be just as inspiring as religion. In the painting, a bright lamp acts like the sun. It lights up a model of the solar system called an orrery. This shows how planets orbit the sun, a concept called heliocentrism.
Wright used a single candle to light the scene. This makes the painting look very dramatic and exciting. The light creates strong shadows and bright areas. This style of lighting became a special part of Wright's art.
Who is in the Painting?
Many people thought Wright was a very talented artist. He painted The Orrery hoping that a specific person would buy it. This person was Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers, who was an amateur astronomer. An amateur astronomer is someone who studies stars and planets as a hobby.
Real People in the Picture
Earl Ferrers had his own orrery, and Wright's friend, Peter Perez Burdett, was staying with him. Because of this, many believe the people in the painting are actually portraits of Burdett and Ferrers. In the picture, Burdett is shown taking notes. Earl Ferrers is seated with his son, watching the orrery demonstration.
Earl Ferrers bought the painting for £210. Later, his son, the 6th Earl, sold it at an auction. Today, The Orrery is a permanent display at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
The Teacher's Identity
Some people think the teacher in the painting looks like John Whitehurst, a famous clockmaker and scientist. However, others believe the teacher looks more like a painting of Isaac Newton by another artist named Godfrey Kneller.
Related pages
- Egerton, Judy (1998), National Gallery Catalogues (new series): The British School. catalogue entry pp. 332–343, ISBN: 1-85709-170-1
- 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
- Waterhouse, Ellis, (4th Edn, 1978) Painting in Britain, 1530–1790. Penguin Books (now Yale History of Art series), ISBN: 0-300-05319-3
See also
In Spanish: Un filósofo da una lección sobre el planetario de mesa para niños
