Joseph Wright of Derby, A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery, c. 1763-65, Derby.
A key idea of the Age of Enlightenment; that empirical observation grounded in science and reason could best advance society is expressed by the faces of the individuals.
The events depicted do not give A Philosopher Lecturing at the Orrery its high dramatic impact. That responsibility falls on the painting's strong internal light source, the lamp that takes the role of the sun. Wright mimics Baroque artists like Caravaggio, who inserted strong light sources in otherwise dark compositions to create the dramatic effect. Most of these earlier works were Christian subjects, and the light sources were often simple candles. Wright flips the script with his scientific subject matter. The gas lamp which acts as the sun pulls double duty in the painting. It illuminates the scene, allowing the viewer to clearly see the figures within, and it symbolizes the active enlightenment in those figures who are participating.
Joseph Wright of Derby, The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorous, 1771, Derby.
Joseph Wright of Derby also painted The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorous, where he illustrates a man kneeling and praying over a flask. During the 17th century, alchemists were searching for the Philosopher's Stone, which was believed to provide both immortality and turn metals into gold. Alchemists would often pray during their experiments in hopes of ensuring their task would be successful. In this painting, Derby attempts to depict this moment during the discovery of phosphorous.
Jacques-Louis David, Madame Francois Buron, 1769, France.
Madame Francois Buron is one of David's earlier paintings depicting a woman intently reading a book. You can see her desk is piled with books, which depicts the thirst for knowledge during the Enlightenment period. I was also impressed with this painting because it depicts a scholarly woman, and although it may not appear, it was still a big step for women during the Classical era. There was a continued increase in women painters as well as paintings depicting women in this scholarly fashion. During the Enlightenment there was also a lot of growth within the literature industry and among writers, which was most likely depicted in this painting as well. You can see how involved the woman is with her book, as her face is lit up with intrigue.
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All three paintings do an excellent job of showing the shift into the Enlightenment. The quest for knowledge and learning is suddenly hugely important, instead of being something only scholars and nobility would pursue. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think these paintings are an excellent representation of the Age of Enlightenment: the thirst for knowledge, the growing number of emerging scientists, the hints of religion entangled within science, etc. I truly admire the contrast between light and dark values to create the illusion of light, especially in the first two paintings. They make me feel as though I am part of the discoveries. I also agree that the depiction of a scholarly woman is rare and refreshing. Thank you for your commentary and for sharing these!
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