Enlightenment Era

Madeline Godwin

Tyler Brown

Zoe Siegel

Sean Grab

Group 1

1. Just as Greco-Roman paintings often figuratively represent the literal desire for order and unity in society, Picasso’s modern paintings represented a particular desire. Choose a painting, or any other form of art, created by a famous artist from the Enlightenment era and explain how the figurative representation of that piece of art conveys its literal meaning regarding society.

The painting is called “A Philosopher Giving A Lecture at the Orrery” (1765) and it is painted by Joseph Wright.  This painting represents two men, one pensive in thought and the other pleasantly writing. There are also two young kids staring curiously and calmly into an orbit type metal wired half ball that looks to be scientific. There are also three other men that are in the shadows that are also staring into the interesting object. This figurative representation is an excellent depiction of what was valued during the enlightenment in society. At the time discoveries were esteemed very highly and it was attractive to wonder and make theories about the universe. This picture has dim candlelight and pensive looks that represent the aura that was present while men chipped away at their new ideas. The enlightenment encouraged revolution of thought and curiosity and this painting exemplifies just that.