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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: Josh. Wright Pinxt.; lower center in plate: J Boydell Exct.; lower right in plate: Wm. Pether fecit 1768;by later hand, verso in graphite: lr. exhibited Tate 1990 no. 1 / p44130; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: 731
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.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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