art.wikisort.org - Painting

The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus is a painting by Joseph Wright of Derby originally completed in 1771 then reworked in 1795.[1] The full title of the painting is The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful Conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers. It has been suggested that The Alchymist refers to the discovery of phosphorus by the Hamburg alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669.[2] This story was often printed in popular chemical books in Wright's lifetime, and was widely known.

The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus
Artist	Joseph Wright of Derby
Year	1771 (1771)
Dimensions	127 cm × 101.6 cm (50 in × 40.0 in)
Location	Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby

Description

The picture shows the alchemist trying to produce the elusive Philosopher's stone, which could turn ordinary metal into gold, but instead, to his amazement, he discovers phosphorus. However, Wright does not picture the alchemist in a 17th-century background but he romanticises the room by imagining medieval gothic arches and high, pointed windows as if he is in a church. He also gave a very favourable impression of the actual process which involves the reduction by boiling of urine. A 1730 description of the manufacture of phosphorus described the need for 50 or 60 pails of urine that was both putrid and "bred worms".[3]

Wright also gives religious connotations to the painting. The alchemist kneels in front of a shining vessel, stretching out his hands in a similar gesture to that used by El Greco when painting St Francis receiving the Stigmata or St Jerome in Prayer.[4] Benedict Nicolson compares his posture to that of one of Christ's disciples receiving communion. He believes that the layout of the painting may have been taken from Thomas Wijck's painting (left) of an alchemist which also contains similar vaulting, a confusion of objects and a similar assistant who is singled out by the light. This painting from the previous century was on display in London during Wright's lifetime.[5] However it is clear from a sketch by Wright's companion, Peter Perez Burdett, that he had a strong influence on the design. His sketch of 4 February 1771 shows the vaulting and the layout of the painting with the glass container as its focus. It is Burdett who says where to place the figure in the painting and Burdett had already referred Wright to Matthew Turner so that Wright might fully understand the underlying science in the painting.[6]

History

Since its exhibition in 1771, the picture has provoked many contradictory interpretations. Its mystery obviously disturbed 18th-century viewers, and although Wright was an internationally recognised artist, the painting was not sold when he first exhibited it. The picture travelled with Wright to Italy in 1773–1775, came back to England, was reworked in 1795, but was only sold four years after his death, when his possessions were auctioned at Christie's.[1]

References

На других языках

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- [en] The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus

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[fr] L'Alchimiste découvrant le phosphore

L'Alchimiste découvrant le phosphore (anglais : The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus) est une peinture de 1771 du Britannique Joseph Wright of Derby. Elle est conservée au Derby Museum and Art Gallery de Derby. Le titre complet de la peinture est The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful Conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers, c'est-à-dire « L'alchimiste, à la recherche de la pierre philosophale, découvre le phosphore, et prie pour la réussite de son expérience, comme c'était la coutume des anciens astrologues chimistes ». Il a été suggéré que « l'alchimiste » désigne l'alchimiste de Hambourg Hennig Brand qui a découvert le phosphore en 1669. Cette histoire a été souvent imprimée dans des livres de chimie du vivant de Wright et a été largement diffusée.

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[it] Alchimista che scopre il fosforo

L'alchimista scopre il fosforo è un dipinto di Joseph Wright of Derby originariamente terminato nel 1771 e poi rimaneggiato nel 1795.[1] Il titolo completo del dipinto è L'alchimista, alla ricerca della pietra filosofale, scopre il fosforo e prega per la buona conclusione della sua operazione, come era usanza degli antichi astrologi alchemici. Si è suggerito che questo quadro si riferisca alla scoperta del fosforo da parte dell'alchimista di Amburgo Hennig Brand nel 1669[2]. L'uomo, che cercava la pietra filosofale distillando urina di cavallo, una notte vide dall'ampolla in ebollizione uscire un notevole chiarore che illuminò tutta la cantina dove conduceva le proprie ricerche. Per questo motivo volle dare come nome al composto appena scoperto "fosforo", in greco "portatore di luce"[3]; questa storia era già stata spesso stampata nei libri popolari di chimica nel corso della vita di Wright, ed era ampiamente nota.

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[ru] Алхимик, открывающий фосфор

«Алхимик, открывающий фосфор» (англ. The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus) — картина английского художника Джозефа Райта, написанная в 1771 году и переработанная в 1795 году[1]. Полное название картины — «Алхимик в поисках философского камня, обнаруживает фосфор и молится за успешное завершение его действий, согласно обычаю древних химических астрологов». Было высказано предположение, что «Алхимик» описывает открытие фосфора алхимиком из Гамбурга Хеннигом Брандом в 1669 году[2]. Эта история была широко известна и часто упоминалась в научно-популярных книгах o химии, опубликованных при жизни художника.

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