JOSEPH WRIGHT OF DERBY (1734-1797) 'A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump'. Mezzotint engraved by Valentine Green after Wright, 3rd state of 4. London: J. Boydell, 1769. (P: 594 x 482mm). (Laid down onto a sheet of card, with margins on three sides, trimmed at the bottom not affecting caption, small, skilfully repaired marginal tears and wormholes, thin scratch on image, occasional scuffing.) Framed and glazed. A CONTEMPORARY MEZZOTINT OF WRIGHT'S CELEBRATED PAINTING: 'ONE OF THE WHOLLY ORIGINAL MASTERPIECES OF BRITISH ART' (Ellis Waterhouse, quoted by Egerton, p.58). Before travelling to Italy and being elected member of the Royal Academy, Wright was based in Derby and focused on the sciences and scientific instruments, producing a series of striking images of these subjects. The air pump, invented in 1650 and introduced to Britain by Boyle in 1658-9, became popular in enlightened society in the mid-18th century, and Wright depicted its use in 1768 in a new and dramatic way. Together with his 1766 'Orrery', 'there had been nothing like these pictures in British art, and they fitted into none of the generally accepted categories ... they were undeniably compelling, particularly at a time when popular interest in the wonders of science was growing, disseminated by travelling lecturers on pneumatics (the air pump), astronomy (the orrery), optics and other subjects.' (Egerton, p.58). As the present work typically shows, he treated scenes of discoveries and experiments with chiaroscuro in a style close to the early 17 t h-century 'Utrecht caravagists'. Mezzotint was the most suitable technique to translate into print Wright's style, and Valentine Green one of the leading practitioners of the period (Bénézit remarks that 'ses gravures, extrêmement recherchées, se vendent fort cher', in 1976 ed., V 187). Originally published by Green in 1769, the plate was purchased the same year by Boydell, who issued the present edition dated 24 June 1769. Chaloner Smith, 'Green' 163; Egerton, Wright of Derby (Tate exhibition catalogue, 1990) 153; Le Blanc, 'Green' 40.
JOSEPH WRIGHT OF DERBY (1734-1797) 'A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump'. Mezzotint engraved by Valentine Green after Wright, 3rd state of 4. London: J. Boydell, 1769. (P: 594 x 482mm). (Laid down onto a sheet of card, with margins on three sides, trimmed at the bottom not affecting caption, small, skilfully repaired marginal tears and wormholes, thin scratch on image, occasional scuffing.) Framed and glazed. A CONTEMPORARY MEZZOTINT OF WRIGHT'S CELEBRATED PAINTING: 'ONE OF THE WHOLLY ORIGINAL MASTERPIECES OF BRITISH ART' (Ellis Waterhouse, quoted by Egerton, p.58). Before travelling to Italy and being elected member of the Royal Academy, Wright was based in Derby and focused on the sciences and scientific instruments, producing a series of striking images of these subjects. The air pump, invented in 1650 and introduced to Britain by Boyle in 1658-9, became popular in enlightened society in the mid-18th century, and Wright depicted its use in 1768 in a new and dramatic way. Together with his 1766 'Orrery', 'there had been nothing like these pictures in British art, and they fitted into none of the generally accepted categories ... they were undeniably compelling, particularly at a time when popular interest in the wonders of science was growing, disseminated by travelling lecturers on pneumatics (the air pump), astronomy (the orrery), optics and other subjects.' (Egerton, p.58). As the present work typically shows, he treated scenes of discoveries and experiments with chiaroscuro in a style close to the early 17 t h-century 'Utrecht caravagists'. Mezzotint was the most suitable technique to translate into print Wright's style, and Valentine Green one of the leading practitioners of the period (Bénézit remarks that 'ses gravures, extrêmement recherchées, se vendent fort cher', in 1976 ed., V 187). Originally published by Green in 1769, the plate was purchased the same year by Boydell, who issued the present edition dated 24 June 1769. Chaloner Smith, 'Green' 163; Egerton, Wright of Derby (Tate exhibition catalogue, 1990) 153; Le Blanc, 'Green' 40.
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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