Who commissioned a philosopher giving a lecture at the Orrery?
Joseph Wright of Derby
| A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Joseph Wright of Derby |
| Year | ca. 1766 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 1473 mm × 2032 mm (58 in × 80 in) |
What can be seen in Joseph Wright’s painting A Philosopher Giving a lecture at the Orrery?
In Joseph Wright of Derby’s painting A Philosopher Giving A Lecture at the Orrery (1765), we see the demonstration of an Orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system that was used to demonstrate the motions of the planets around the sun—making the universe seem almost like a clock.
What are the philosophical underpinnings of the Enlightenment and how do they affect the production of art?
The Enlightenment encouraged criticism of the corruption of the monarchy (at this point King Louis XVI), and the aristocracy. Enlightenment thinkers condemned Rococo art for being immoral and indecent, and called for a new kind of art that would be moral instead of immoral, and teach people right and wrong.
Why was Rococo condemned?
Art During the Enlightenment When the Enlightenment and its new ideals took hold, Rococo was condemned for being immoral, indecent, and indulgent, and a new kind of instructive art was called for, which became known as Neoclassicism.
Where was a philosopher giving a lecture on the Orrery painted?
One of these instances produced A philosopher giving a lecture on the orrery, a painting reproduced in mezzotint by artist William Pether.
Who painted the Orrery?
A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery/Artists
What is the Orrery in Joseph Wright of Derby painting?
An orrery is a mechanical planetarium depicting the movements of the planets in the solar system, with a light in the center representing the sun. In Wright’s time, ”philosopher” was a term indicating a scientist. The Alchymist (Joseph Wright of Derby, 1771).
How did neoclassical art reflect the Enlightenment?
During this period, Neoclassicism and the Enlightenment were different, but intertwined movements. Neoclassicism was an artistic manifestation of aesthetic and cultural ideals, while the Enlightenment was a wider philosophical and political movement focusing on the human condition.
How did neoclassical architecture reflect the ideals of the Enlightenment?
Neoclassicism stood in opposition to the light-hearted and frivolous Rococo style with its sense of order, clarity, and reason seen in Greek and Roman art. These values held great appeal in the Age of Enlightenment, particularly in France and the United States as the Neoclassical style held strong moral implications.
What are the characteristic of neoclassical art?
Neoclassicism is characterized by clarity of form, sober colors, shallow space, strong horizontal and verticals that render that subject matter timeless (instead of temporal as in the dynamic Baroque works), and Classical subject matter (or classicizing contemporary subject matter).