Artwork
A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery
A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Pether. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery is a mezzotint print created by William Pether in 1768 on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a group of five people gathered around an orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system, in a dimly lit room. An older man, likely a philosopher or scientist, explains the device's workings to the others, including two children.
Technique & Style
Pether employed chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, to create a sense of intimacy and focus. Mezzotint, a printmaking technique, allowed for subtle gradations of tone, giving the scene a lifelike quality despite being a printed work.
Artist & collection
The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and Prays for the Successful Conclusion of his Operation, as was the Custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers
The Royal Academy of Arts
Bildhaueratelier
The Royal Academy of Arts
Fragonard and Bergeret with Their Wives Visiting a Tomb in Pompeii
The Drawing Academy in Amsterdam
H Beard Print Collection
Le glouton