Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700’ by Xavier JL
Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700’
I chose to present the topic of “Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700s” because it has a lot to cover and offer. It was a period that saw significant progress not only in the arts but also in the science sector. This period is referred to as the Enlightenment and influenced artists across the world which led to the emergence of new genres such as neoclassicism, rococo, and romanticism. Those three genres revived classic art principles by bringing back elegance as well as emphasizing individual emotions in the natural world. Scientific discoveries were a huge help in making those paintings realistic and relatable. They influenced art by inspiring more precise depictions of nature, advancements in perspective and lighting techniques, and a greater emphasis on anatomical precision and representing the human body. Artists also incorporated scientific instruments and explored Enlightenment ideals, using art as a medium to express rational thinking, progress, and the pursuit of knowledge. During the 1700s we can say that art and science both progressed hand in hand to improve the quality of art and human knowledge.
“ The Swing” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1767):
"The Swing" is an iconic Rococo painting by French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard. It shows a young woman on a swing, being pushed by a suitor while her husband remains unaware beneath the swing. The painting is characterized by its natural background and playful atmosphere, its motif and recurrent patterns, and its pastel color palette. "The Swing" captures the essence of Rococo art, emphasizing themes of romance, and the pursuit of pleasure that were popular in 18th-century French society. I like this piece because it is very full and has a lot to look into and appreciate.
“The Alchemist" by Joseph Wright of Derby (1771):
Joseph Wright of Derby was known for his paintings that captured scientific curiosity and experimentation during the Enlightenment. "The Alchemist" depicts an alchemist in his laboratory surrounded by various scientific instruments and books. The painting showcases the fascination with alchemy and shows the quest for knowledge and discovery during the 18th century. I think it is a good example of how art and science met each other in the 1700s. The painting itself is very realistic and representative of the art of that era. It draws attention to the various scientific instruments, glassware, and books that surround the alchemist, symbolizing his pursuit of knowledge and experimentation. I like this piece, it is quite simple but still very meaningful especially at the time of its release.
"The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters" by Francisco Goya (1799)
The last piece I decided to present is "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters" by Francisco Goya. It depicts an artist sleeping at his desk, surrounded by various creatures representing ignorance and superstition. This piece reflects the broader artistic and intellectual trends of the time. It focuses on the importance of reason, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry during the Enlightenment. I think that from a first view, this piece looks quite simple but when you truly understand the undermining of each element, you realize that it actually has a lot of depth and is really pertinent for the time period it was made. It’s the type of piece I would have hanging in my office.
Carstensen, Sarah. "Art and Scientific Discovery in the 1700s." Sarah Carstensen's Blog, 6 March 2015,
https://sarahcarstensen.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/art-and-scientific-discovery-in-the-1700s/. (accessed 2023-07-02)
White, Matthew. "Enlightenment." The British Library, 21 June 2018, www.bl.uk/restoration-18th-century-literature/articles/the-enlightenment. (accessed 2023-07-02)
I also chose to look into art and scientific discovery. It is very interesting and I really like the works you used in your blog. They are all beautiful and in my opinion, show the theme very well. The Alchemist is definitely a great choice. It really helped to spread a lot of scientific discovery through art, which was very important during the time.
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ReplyDeleteMy theme was Art and Morality, but we looked at one of the same paintings; The Swing. I had trouble interpreting it beyond maybe the girl and the guy hiding in the brush as sharing a concealed moment affection, her lifting her leg and him looking up her skirt, as her father, maybe older husband, propelled her on the swing with ropes. I had to skim the web to further stir my pot; the ropes the old man uses to pull her back, as in control her, are reigns, like you'd use to control a horse. The guy is hiding in the rosebushes, the girl's shoe is flying towards a shushing Cupid, and the white and therefore pure dog is sounding the alarm, as the little ferry like critters of innocence next to the older gentleman are perturbed at the indecency they're observing to which the old man is oblivious. It's a beautiful painting but doesn't do much for me, it's awful subtle and requires too much thought to appreciate. I reckon the application of physics in the use of the swing could make this scientific, but much more than that I'm out of my shallow depth.
Now The Alchemist, I can definitely see science in that. An apparantly learned man, surrounded by a various apparati and books, with a young assistant in the shadowed background taking notes, as the main subject figures out how to make light with chemical reaction. The way the tones is manipulated to indicate shadows cast from the central light emanating from beaker force us to concentrate on the source of light, but the cast light contrasting with the shadows draws me around the rest of the piece. The more I look the more I see. Two assistants? It's a very realistic work, the perceived texture of the objects, particularly the bricks above and to the right of the beaker really pop. I kinda want this in my crafting area.
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters is terrifying. It's not very real, though the tone and dichromaty work together well to create depth and distance. What does a reasonable person fear? Monsters I reckon. We know that the vast majority of encounters with bats, owls, and wolves will end in no harm, but that doesn’t mean that in the back of our minds, where nightmares are fueled, we aren’t afraid of that one in a million time. I can see where it’s based in science and reason very well, but it’s not a piece I would want hanging in my shop.