Classical - Science and Discovery: Advancements Through Art

Science and Discovery: Advancements Through Art

Art has been a way for people to express creativity throughout the generations. However, it is not only used for decorative work, it is also used for, or to depict, advancements in the scientific field. This could be done through sketching out the diagram of a cell, designing a prototype for new inventions, or documenting work or experiments. Art has shaped the way we view science and technology because, even though not everyone has the mind of an engineer, biologist, etc., we can all look at art and appreciate the story behind it. 

One example of science in art would be Benjamin West's work Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky. It was created to show Franklin's experiment with lightning, and to capture the image of how he forever changed science as we know it. The painting was created with oil on slate in 1816 in England. West made this work because he had become friends with Franklin during his lifetime. It was designed to show reverence for a great man who helped advance science in ways that were never thought possible. Because of Franklin and West's friendship, we can see how science and art compliment one another, and can help guide both fields to greatness.  

 

Benjamin West's Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity From the Sky (1816)

This painting shows mostly darker colors, but the cloaks that Franklin and the children are wearing are vibrant and stand out. This allows the focus to be on them, instead of the lightning itself. Also, the painted texture of the background is almost blurred, which I believe is to not distract from the main event. In the background, it shows lightning in the clouds, children playing, and what looks to be a kite, the medium for his experiment. This painting is not scientifically accurate, however, because Franklin was much safer when conducting his experiment. He made sure he was on an insulator and kept dry to prevent himself from getting electrocuted. Unfortunately, many people tried to recreate his experiment and ended up getting electrocuted themselves. Although there were many challenges with his experiment, he ended up saving many lives and buildings through the invention of the lightning rod, as well as adding to the knowledge of electricity that we still use and learn from to this day.

Personally, Although this painting is quite beautiful and unique, I would not want it in my home. For starters, it is not scientifically accurate. If I want to honor a man for his work in the scientific field, I do not want it to be skewed for aesthetic appeal. Another reason I am would not want this painting in my home is because it only highlights Franklin and his work, not anyone else's. There are many scientists around the world who have also contributed to the scientific field and they are not recognized in murals, or even in history. 

A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery, Joseph Wright, 1766

One great example of how science and art are intertwined is Joseph Wright's piece, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery. This piece was made in Derby with oil on canvas and is currently showcased at Derby Museum and Art Gallery. It shows a teacher explaining the solar system to a bunch of children who are entranced by the lesson and the mechanism. An Orrery, which can be seen in the painting, is a device that is used to represent the solar system and show how the planets move around the sun. In this painting, the children are captivated by the sight and actually seem to be excited to learn. However, this painting was not liked by all and was actually quite controversial. This is because, during the Age of Enlightenment, people started shifting away from purely theological beliefs and started to look at science for answers to the unknown. Many people blamed the scientists for this enlightenment phase, however, artists such as Wright were responsible for spreading awareness to this new way of thinking, and may have even caused more conversions than scientists themselves. Wright of Derby quickly became known for his skills in "depicting scientists and philosophers in ways previously reserved for Biblical heroes and Greek gods", and was the unofficial artist of the Age of Enlightenment (Abram Fox, 2016). 

The full title of the painting is A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the sun, and this can be seen in the painting. The students are captivated by the light in the center, not able look away for even a second. This shows how eager children were to learn about science and how much it has changed between then and now. This painting depicts what education should look like. Children wanting to learn, enjoying their time and always wanting to know more. 

If I had the opportunity, I would love to have this painting in my home. The lamp lighting up the children's faces makes the whole scene appear happier, like they are beaming with joy. The contrast in the colors makes the scene more bold and allows more focus to be on the faces of the students. The tone also helps with this, as there are light colors in the center of the painting where the light is, and dark colors on the outside, almost creating a vignette style. What I particularly enjoy about this painting is that there are both boys and girls being taught about science, and they are all equally fascinated by the subject. I believe that this painting represents a goal for how education should be, and I would be honored have it in my home for anyone to see. 

Émilie du Châtelet, by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, 18th century

Émilie du Châtelet, by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, was created in the 18th century but the exact location of its creation is not known. It is believed to have been created in Paris, where de la Tour spent most of his time. It depicts a scientist I have never heard of until this assignment because her achievements have been lost in history. Her name is Emilie du Châtelet and she was essential to distribution of Sir Isaac Newton's work. Her job was to read and translate Newton's book on mechanics and gravity. His findings were still quite controversial in France, and she worked day and night to translate his book in order to convince people that it was the truth. She died mere days after completing her work due to complications with child birth, and history seems to have forgotten her sacrifice. If she is ever talked about, she is known as Voltaire’s mistress, instead of being renounced as a great woman of science like she deserved. There is not much information on the painting itself, probably because it is of a woman in the scientific field. 

The colors in this painting are bright and cheery, especially those on her clothing. Blue and yellow are two particularly joyful colors and make this painting even more appealing. Although I cannot feel the physical texture, the way the texture was painted onto this work makes it look very realistic, portraying her hair, clothing, and background with life-like texture. Even the papers on her desk are wrinkled, showing the endless amount of work she had been doing every night. 

What I like about this work is that it shows at least one of the scientists that seems to have been left behind and forgotten. The most well known scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton, Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, all have paintings and depictions of them and are thought of as the people who rethought the universe. However, there are scientists like Châtelet who were just as, if not more, important and they are never recognized.

This is a painting that I would be honored to have in my home. I would look at it with pride every time I walked into the room. As a woman going into the scientific field, it is my hope that, if I am able to make a scientific discovery or advancement, that I will be recognized for my work. I want more people to know her and other scientists who are often overlooked, and I believe that sharing her portrait is one way to do that.

There are many different ways that art and science combine into one, but I believe that the most influential is through the Age of Enlightenment. With artists depicting scientists and their different experiments, they are spreading knowledge through images, letting everyone have a glimpse into the scientific world. 

References 

"Benjamin Franklin drawing electricity from the Sky" by Benjamin West. Joy of Museums Virtual Tours. (2020, October 4). Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://joyofmuseums.com/museums/united-states-of-america/philadelphia-museums/benjamin-franklin-drawing-electricity-from-the-sky-by-benjamin-west/

 Fara, P. (2016, July 25). The bold, brilliant woman who championed Newton's physics. New Scientist. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030751-000-emilie-du-chatelet-the-woman-who-popularised-newtonian-physics/ 

Dr. Abram Fox, "Joseph Wright of Derby, A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery," in Smarthistory, January 8, 2016, accessed June 23, 2022, https://smarthistory.org/joseph-wright-of-derby-a-philosopher-giving-a-lecture-at-the-orrery/.