An enlightened experiment | Joseph Wright 'of Derby' | National Gallery

Joseph Wright hailed from Derby, a city at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. What can we learn from 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' about this advancing time and how does this painting represent the Enlightenment that was taking place around him? Unpick and explore the references scattered throughout this masterpiece with Adult Learning Programmer Matthew Morgan.
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The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and on Fridays between 10.00 am - 9.00 pm.
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Пікірлер: 73

  • @michaelbaenen2388
    @michaelbaenen23884 жыл бұрын

    I'm always impressed by the quality of the National Gallery's lecturers. Another outstanding excursion into a great work of art.

  • @rg31404
    @rg314045 жыл бұрын

    The reflections on the table are breathtaking.

  • @dmmw125
    @dmmw1254 жыл бұрын

    It's a fictional bird from two hundred years ago but somehow I want it to escape.

  • @ThankYou-bn6bp
    @ThankYou-bn6bp2 жыл бұрын

    This is literally one of best videos by the National Gallery. I was frowning, laughing, thinking, and walking through history while this gentleman walked us through the painting. Thank you sir!

  • @ssagnikdeyy8617
    @ssagnikdeyy86172 жыл бұрын

    I love this endeavour by the national gallery explaining this each painting for half and hour .

  • @cindy8994
    @cindy89944 жыл бұрын

    I suggest the object in the glass at front are lungs from a lamb or something similar. They are immersed in liquid to apply external pressure. Blowing down the straw would inflate them and then the pressure would deflate them. It is the juxtaposition to the experiment in the vacuum chamber.

  • @LCDigital92
    @LCDigital923 жыл бұрын

    My all-time favorite painting.

  • @shaunrish9516
    @shaunrish95162 жыл бұрын

    I dont think it is possible to paint better than this,,, an outstanding painting

  • @dianacrainiciuc8440
    @dianacrainiciuc84403 ай бұрын

    I visited The National Gallery yesterday and spotted this painting. I was mesmerised by the narrative. I kept looking at it for a good ten minutes. It is very captivating.

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    3 ай бұрын

    Thank you for visiting us, Diana!

  • @dianacrainiciuc8440

    @dianacrainiciuc8440

    3 ай бұрын

    @@nationalgallery Thank you for a great experience!

  • @Socratica
    @Socratica6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this analysis of one of our favourite paintings! As scientists, it's fascinating to see this period of early discovery captured in this way.

  • @leightonpaxton6504

    @leightonpaxton6504

    2 жыл бұрын

    I know Im randomly asking but does anyone know a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I was dumb lost the account password. I love any tips you can give me

  • @walterandy7050

    @walterandy7050

    2 жыл бұрын

    @Leighton Paxton Instablaster :)

  • @kevinbaird7277
    @kevinbaird72774 жыл бұрын

    This picture is stunning, very Caravaggio in style with its use of light to keep the viewer hooked on the narrative, i have loved Caravaggio's work for many years, his approach to storytelling from the 16th and 17th century has been used by many artists to tighten the subjects and more easily tell story, also this technique can be used to hide some of the artists work to confuse the viewer and make us think about other aspects of the narrative to complete the pictures story.

  • @vandanamisra5826

    @vandanamisra5826

    2 жыл бұрын

    When first time I saw this even I thought it to be Caravaggio's work.

  • @Eudaimonia88
    @Eudaimonia88 Жыл бұрын

    The lecturer, Matthew Morgan, is much like the philosopher with the long grey hair: he has the air of a magician (pun intended!), he is pivotal to the scene, and he is in control of the narrative and thus of its outcome. Amazing! Thank you.

  • @jacektoporowski7755
    @jacektoporowski7755 Жыл бұрын

    I think that the couple on the left are not looking at each other. And it is not the symbol of love. She is clearly upset after she saw what is happening with the bird and she's looking away, staring somewhere far away, thinking about this horrible event. And he is looking at her, troubled, that she is sad and in pain. Am I wrong? :-)

  • @andrewmogg591
    @andrewmogg5915 жыл бұрын

    My favourite painting in the wonderful National Gallery. But I'm from Derby and possibly a tad bias.

  • @johnp515

    @johnp515

    5 жыл бұрын

    I'm from London, now live in Tokyo and it's my favourite too. I always seek it out when I go back to the National Gallery.

  • @jasona716

    @jasona716

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm from the North East, and it's my favourite painting too - a trip to London is not complete without going to see it.

  • @robkunkel8833
    @robkunkel88332 жыл бұрын

    National Gallery has quirky interesting exhibits. Truly a repository of treasured art et al … 🌴💪🏽Bravo

  • @RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus
    @RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus Жыл бұрын

    This painting is one of the biggest references for the works that I have created in my legend "Flosanthomo". Thank you 😍.

  • @DevilishScience
    @DevilishScience3 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting. Joseph Wright's painting of the Alchemist is about the discovery of Phosphorous not magnesium which wasn't known in Wright's day.

  • @moisescervantes3801
    @moisescervantes38016 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful! 👏🏼

  • @OctavianRepedeFilms
    @OctavianRepedeFilms4 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant painting and comentary!

  • @christtysilva5932
    @christtysilva59323 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for these videos, and support art and culture, greetings from Perú.

  • @gabriellarrotta8636
    @gabriellarrotta86363 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant! Mr. Curator that was a very clear and engaging lecture. Thanks.

  • @migfed
    @migfed6 жыл бұрын

    One recommendation: the camera should let us contemplate the painting most of the time, 95% would be just fine. Watching the lecturer should be just at the initial moment, for introductory purposes and at the end, when some overall comments would be said. The rest of the lecture the camera should let us dive deep in the painting, exploring all of its details. Thanks for your attention. Congratulations to the National Gallery for letting us to comprehend a bit about art history and it's masterpieces.

  • @MariaEduarda003

    @MariaEduarda003

    6 жыл бұрын

    migfed hey! I respecfully disagree. I much rather see whos talking to me, his expressions are part of the narrative. I can see the painting whenever I want.

  • @vegasrocker58

    @vegasrocker58

    3 жыл бұрын

    I so agree.. Its almost so frustrating that I don't want to watch this. Let us look at the painting in detail while you talk

  • @francislesouza
    @francislesouza3 жыл бұрын

    wonderful description of the nature of science.

  • @leticiajardim1522
    @leticiajardim15226 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting!

  • @virginiepiga4048
    @virginiepiga40482 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this wonderful analysis!

  • @vandanamisra5826
    @vandanamisra58262 жыл бұрын

    This was a beautiful lecture with real good research done on painting. Very impressive analysis.

  • @fododude
    @fododude5 жыл бұрын

    The wide shot was evidently lit by a single candle.

  • @lilynaari
    @lilynaari2 жыл бұрын

    So interesting, what an amazing service to gift to the world

  • @keybawd4023
    @keybawd40233 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating and informative talk. I have long known of the Luna Society, so at the first reference to the full moon, I knew we were on an interesting path.

  • @glennpotter6544
    @glennpotter65442 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful commentary and very informative - thank-you!

  • @architectonic99
    @architectonic992 жыл бұрын

    Amazing insights Thanks so much!

  • @ivansno.1garage909
    @ivansno.1garage909 Жыл бұрын

    Wow! This is an amazing talk about such a wonderful painting. I was so engrossed in the discussion and then he threw the question to us in the dieing moments....bravo NG🤝👋.

  • @xyzllii
    @xyzllii5 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting.

  • @charleswhitfield8915
    @charleswhitfield8915 Жыл бұрын

    A superb lecture.

  • @jamesb2059
    @jamesb20592 жыл бұрын

    Excellent lecture!

  • @PCTamers
    @PCTamers4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, illuminated (pun intended) one of my favourite paintings in the NG.

  • @colinmannion3760
    @colinmannion37602 жыл бұрын

    Very very informative. Thank you 🙂

  • @luisortizgervasi3820
    @luisortizgervasi38202 жыл бұрын

    In the painting, there may not be just a representation of science and the different attitudes towards science and knowledge, but also a reflection about life and death. Hence the philosophical attitude of the relatively old man in the right-hand side of the painting.

  • @mimi_pesss
    @mimi_pesss4 жыл бұрын

    great painting

  • @stevechmilar1215
    @stevechmilar12156 ай бұрын

    Excellent presentation. Joseph Wright of Derby is one of my biggest influences. I must add, that I hope many of the patrons who would attend a lecture such as this, are aware that there are some contemporary painters working in a somewhat similar style. Please observe my work and let me know if you got there via this comment. Three Cheers!

  • @21sungalute.42
    @21sungalute.422 жыл бұрын

    I’ve seen this work close up and it really is something akin to an 18th Century jpeg image!

  • @hnin.studio
    @hnin.studio2 жыл бұрын

    i love this 💚

  • @gabriellefagan1014
    @gabriellefagan10143 жыл бұрын

    There are 3 J.W.of.D paintings @ the N.G.V. One self portrait, one painting of his daughter and a landscape.

  • @Stoic-Col
    @Stoic-Col2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe it's just me but looking at this painting makes me think of it as a seventeenth century take on the "Dead Parrot Sketch". John Cleese's character has just taken the Norwegian Blue home and his family break the bad news to him.

  • @AlnicaDark
    @AlnicaDark3 жыл бұрын

    Vem mer e här pga "Bild"

  • @gfrtube8547
    @gfrtube85476 жыл бұрын

    Do Andrea Previtali

  • @sintes88
    @sintes886 жыл бұрын

    Why is the video footage so dark?

  • @TarunoNafs

    @TarunoNafs

    4 жыл бұрын

    Because it is an art museum... They show precious artworks that have to avoid bright light.

  • @joeybarlow6753

    @joeybarlow6753

    4 жыл бұрын

    Chiaroscuro, innit

  • @sphinxtheeminx
    @sphinxtheeminx2 жыл бұрын

    I think the father is explaining that the bird is OK and about to be brought back - it's a magic trick to the children, not a science experiment.

  • @trueamnisias
    @trueamnisias3 жыл бұрын

    Half an hour well spend. I hope the NG reopens soon and the lunch talks start again.

  • @wiltor4
    @wiltor47 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this

  • @ilksenteksoy4008
    @ilksenteksoy40082 жыл бұрын

    🇹🇷😍🤗

  • @KenDelloSandro7565
    @KenDelloSandro75653 жыл бұрын

    Limey buggers

  • @vojtasjedyny
    @vojtasjedyny3 жыл бұрын

    I like to think there's a puppy's head in the jar on the table.

  • @caramelshark
    @caramelshark2 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy watching those beautiful historical analysis videos, but I honestly care more about it’s history than the narrator’s opinion. I’d prefer it if he’d give the viewer the freedom of making up their own scenarios in their minds on how’d they’d depict a painting like this… No hate at all. I’m all for hearing other people’s opinions, only when I’m given the freedom of making up my own personal one and when the point of view I’m hearing is not in a way… “forced” on me, as a spectator and listener, as if it were a part of the painting’s history.

  • @CanadianMang
    @CanadianMang5 жыл бұрын

    Is that a normal English accent or does he try to sound like that?

  • @farismag

    @farismag

    5 жыл бұрын

    There isn't normal English accent. There are variety of it which some used more than others. However, his accent could be from a town he is living in.

  • @AntPDC

    @AntPDC

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@farismag This is an entirely normal English accent.

  • @AntPDC

    @AntPDC

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Tweaky Robin It's all subjective. Sounds perfectly pleasant to the ear to me.

  • @robbied2113

    @robbied2113

    3 жыл бұрын

    Everyone in England talks like him

  • @hemeljohn1

    @hemeljohn1

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@robbied2113 If you ever travel around England, you would see that not everyone speaks like him at all. There are hundreds of different accents, according to the town or county you live in. His is just one of many accents.

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