Spectators Gallery

The Orrery by Joseph Wright

The Orrery by Joseph Wright (1734-1797). This artwork was painted in 1766. Its full title is A Philospher giving a Lecture on the Orrery in which a Lamp is put in place of the Sun and is the first of the series of candlelight compositions that established Wright's name. It depicts a public demonstration of an orrery (bottom centre), a piece of equipment that shows the movement of planets around the Sun (represented by a lamp) during the course of the year. The Orrery was influenced by meetings between Wright and his friends, when they demonstrated experiments and discussed the latest scientific developments

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The Airpump by Joseph Wright

The Air Pump by Joseph Wright (1734-1797). This artwork was painted in 1768. Its full title is An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump and is the second of the series of candlelight compositions that established Wright's name. It depicts a public demonstration of the effects of a vacuum created by an air pump using a live bird (top centre). The vacuum suffocates the bird and leads to a painful death, and a distressed female spectator can be seen (right). The Air Pump was influenced by meetings between Wright and his friends, when they demonstrated experiments and discussed the latest scientific developments

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Henley Regatta

A stylised illustration of a view at Henley Regatta, started in 1839 by a local solicitor and one of the highlights of the summer social calendar being the most famous rowing event of the year (with the exception of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race). The course of the famous regatta begins 300 yards below Temple Island, and ends at Poplar Point, immediately opposite Phyllis Court (a fashionable riverside club). The course of 1 mile 450 yards was watched with enthusiasm by great crowds which line the river banks and enjoy picnics in fine weather. Date: 1927

© Mary Evans Picture Library