Prism Collection

Light refraction
Refraction. Computer artwork of white light being refracted as it passes through an equilateral triangular prism. Light changes direction, or is refracted

PSCI2A-00011
Isaac Newton using a prism to analyze the colors in a ray of light. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

Newtons Opticks with colour Spectrum
Opticks by the English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), published in 1704 with a colour spectrum produced by a prism projected across the title page

Spectroscope (c. 1860) by Bunsen and Kirchhoff, published in 1880
Spectroscope by Robert Bunsen (German chemist, 1811 - 1899) and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (German physicist, 1824 - 1884). A spectroscope is an optical device

England, Northumberland, The Pennine Way. A rainbow above the Schil on the England / Scottish Border

Reflections of clouds in ripples of sea water, Svalbard, Norway, June 2010

Illustration of Isaac Newtons prism experiment, showing white sunlight split by a prism into the co

Glass Prism refracting colour spectrum
Flint Glass Prism refracting the colour spectrum. Computer artwork. A narrow slit of light is focussed towards the prism which refracts the light into the colour spectrum

Melencolia I (copy), 1602. Creator: Jan Wierix
Melencolia I (copy), 1602. After Albrecht Durer

The Importance of Being Earnest at the St Jamess Theatre, London. Miss Prism (Mrs George Canninge) and Worthing (Mr George Alexander); Algernon Moncrieff (Mr Allen Aynesworth)

Linarite is a bright azure blue colour with crystal growth to nearly 25mm. It comprises of (lead copper sulphate hydroxide). Specimen from the Natural History Museum, London

Geometric shapes, artwork
Geometric shapes, computer artwork. These are a cube (green), a cylinder (blue), a cone (red) and a sphere (silver)

An engraving depicting a stereoscopic viewer with prismatic lenses, based on Brewster's design, 19th century
5311293 An engraving depicting a stereoscopic viewer with prismatic lenses, based on Brewster's design, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1863); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Projecting a beam of sunlight (white light), 1872
3480084 Projecting a beam of sunlight (white light), 1872; (add.info.: Projecting a beam of sunlight (white light) passing through a hole in the blind of a darkened room through a triangular prism

An engraving depicting the projecting of a beam of sunlight (white light) passing through a prism
5311301 An engraving depicting the projecting of a beam of sunlight (white light) passing through a prism and breaking it down into it's separate colours

Passing a ray of sunlight through a prism, 1878
3480085 Passing a ray of sunlight through a prism, 1878; (add.info.: Passing a ray of sunlight (white light) through a prism and breaking it down into its separate colours

Showing the formation of a rainbow, 1704 (engraving)
5311510 Showing the formation of a rainbow, 1704 (engraving); (add.info.: Illustration by showing the formation of a rainbow by dispersion and total internal reflection alongside the splitting)

Solar spectrum being demonstrated to young boys, 1887
3480083 Solar spectrum being demonstrated to young boys, 1887; (add.info.: Solar spectrum being demonstrated to young boys in a darkened room by means of a Heliostat and a prism)

Descartes' experiment showing refraction by a prism and the formation of colours from 'white' light
5311537 Descartes' experiment showing refraction by a prism and the formation of colours from 'white' light, 17th century; Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting a stereoscopic viewer with prismatic lenses, based on Brewster's design, 19th century
5311294 An engraving depicting a stereoscopic viewer with prismatic lenses, based on Brewster's design, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1863); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting the projecting of a beam of sunlight (white light) passing through a prism
5311288 An engraving depicting the projecting of a beam of sunlight (white light) passing through a prism and breaking it down into it's separate colours

An engraving depicting a demonstration of how white light is broken down into the spectrum
5311269 An engraving depicting a demonstration of how white light is broken down into the spectrum and can be reconstructed into white light

Engraving depicting the solar spectrum being demonstrated to young boys in a darkened room by means of a heliostat
5309431 Engraving depicting the solar spectrum being demonstrated to young boys in a darkened room by means of a heliostat and a prism

An early gastroscope by Leitner of Vienna
5311896 An early gastroscope by Leitner of Vienna; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an early gastroscope by Leitner of Vienna. Prisms at the bend enabled the stomach to be observed)

An engraving depicting Isaac Newton's experiment showing how a prism refracted a beam of light
5310949 An engraving depicting Isaac Newton's experiment showing how a prism refracted a beam of light and broken down into the colours of the spectrum (right)

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English scientist and mathematician, using a prism to break white light into spectrum
533535 Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English scientist and mathematician, using a prism to break white light into spectrum. With Cambridge room mate John Wickins

The Great Chandelier by Defries in the International Exhibition, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Chandelier by Defries in the International Exhibition, 1862. The largest chandelier in the world, made from...thousands of pieces of cut and polished glass

Picture No. 12479817
Light refraction on the wall. Spectrum of colours. Date:

RF- Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus) portrait in Three Sisters Spring. Crystal River, Florida, USA. February 2010

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) approaching with curiosity, Dolphin Reef, Eilat, Israel. Red Sea

Prismatic
Linda Wride

Reflection and Shadow
Amy Louise Baker

White-vented storm petrel (Oceanites gracilis galapagoensis) walking on surface of water whilst foraging, Galapagos

North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) two swimming near the surface with autumn leaves reflected in water, Acadia National Park, Maine, USA, October

European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) flying at dawn. When backlit the tiny transparent barbs that make up the feather act like a prism revealing vivid colours in the early light

Detail of small waves on the eastern Atlantic. Isle of Coll, Scotland, October 2012

North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) two in water with autumnal trees reflected in the water, Acadia National Park, Maine, USA, October

Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) scavenging fish around trawlers in Lerwick harbour, Shetland Isles, Scotland, UK, October 2012

Transparent ice formation on Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, March 2012

Stellers Eider (Polysticta stelleri) male swimming, Varangerfjord, Norway, April, Vulnerable species. Bookplate from Danny Greens The Long Journey North

Cloud iridescence forming above a cumulonimbus cloud, caused by light refraction through individual water droplets and ice crystals at high altitude, Sierra Leone

Winsor and Newton Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for Winsor & Newton, manufacturers of artists oil and water colours based in London. The image shows the symbol of a colourful diamond prism

DDE-90037517
Digital composite abstract of dew drops on flowers with flower field in one drop. Date: 05/06/2003

DDE-90033948
Norway, Svalbard Archipelago, Spitsbergen. Rainbow over fjord ice and a rugged coastal landscape in summer. Date: 14/05/2009

Prism Ridden By Richard Quinn 18 June 1994 Date: 18 June 1994

Solar Spectrum (colour litho)
3622758 Solar Spectrum (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Solar Spectrum. Illustration for The Phenomena)

Columna laterata exagona solida, illustration from Divina Proportione
740329 Columna laterata exagona solida, illustration from Divina Proportione by Luca Pacioli (c.1445-1517), originally pub

Baked Clay Prism ( Weld-Blundell Prism ) with the Sumerian King List giving
AMQ113026 Baked Clay Prism ( Weld-Blundell Prism ) with the Sumerian King List giving rulers from before the Flood to King Sin-magir of Isin (c.1827-17 BC) inscribed in cuneiform script

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"Exploring the Prism: Unveiling the Beauty of Light and Color" Step into the world of prisms, where science and art intertwine to reveal the wonders of light and color. From Newton's groundbreaking discoveries to modern spectrometers, these captivating devices have fascinated generations. In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized our understanding of light with his seminal work "Opticks. " His experiments using a prism demonstrated how white sunlight could be split into its constituent colors, unraveling the secrets hidden within this seemingly ordinary phenomenon. Fast forward to 1860 when Bunsen and Kirchhoff introduced their remarkable invention - the spectroscope. This ingenious device allowed scientists to analyze light spectra emitted by various sources, opening new frontiers in fields like chemistry and astronomy. Traveling across England's picturesque Pennine Way, one might witness nature's own prism at play. A rainbow gracefully arches above the Schil mountain range, showcasing a vibrant spectrum that captivates all who behold it. Artistic representations also capture the allure of prisms. An illustration from Newton's experiment depicts sunlight bending through a glass prism, transforming into an array of mesmerizing hues. Geometric shapes take on new life as they refract light in stunning patterns reminiscent of Jan Wierix's masterpiece "Melencolia I. " Beyond scientific realms, prisms find their way into literature and culture. Oscar Wilde famously explored societal facades in his play "The Importance of Being Earnest, " metaphorically comparing human behavior to a prism that distorts reality. Mineral enthusiasts marvel at linarite crystals' striking blue hues as they refract light like miniature prisms themselves—a testament to nature's ability to create beauty through refraction. Even architectural marvels embrace prismatic elements; Fire Island’s Antique Fresnel lighthouse beacon stands tall as a symbol of both navigational safety and artistic craftsmanship—an enchanting fusion between function and aesthetics.