Joseph Wright & All things Neoclassism
Question : Whether through trade or conquest, cross-cultural exchange has influenced much of the art we've seen during our last few class meetings covering Africa, Central America, the Islamic world, and Neoclassic and Romantic Europe. Choose one work of art from the Powerpoints or readings/videos and explain how its appearance and meaning is shaped by cross-cultural exchange. Which two (or more) societies came into contact with one another? What was the nature of this contact? What is the legacy of this exchange today? Be sure to at least one broader concept like Romanticism, Orientalism, Imperialism to explain how the artist uses material and imagery to construct a sense of "self" in response to a perceived "Other."
Answer : For this blog post, i chose to talk about Joseph Wright of Derby, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery, c. 1765, oil on canvas, its relation to Neoclassism, and how its appearance and meaning is shaped by cross-cultural exchange.
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) was known as one of the first English painters to make a career and name for himself in the Art field outside of his home in London, or outside of the United Kingdon for that matter. Jospeh Wright of Derby was also a portraist, specializing in fluent composition and character within his artwork, with varying themes in all his artwork, but a good amount emphasizing philosphy, astronomy, heroising the search for knowledge, and the overall wonder of the world; as well as our curiosity for so.
JWofD's art piece, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery, was made in c. 1765, and is an oil on canvas painting, meant to capture the "Age of Enlightment, as children gather around with the naive hunger for knowledge, as they hear the stories of great philosphers accompanying them. This painting is part of the Neoclassism movement because it fits the aesthetic attitude of its time, reflects on anquity, and resembles themes of restraint, harmony, clarity, and unversality, seen in other Neoclassist artwork.JWodD's A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery embodies exactly that. Joseph Wright of Derby's A philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery's appeaance and meaning is shaped by cross-cultural exchange because of its subject matter, style, scientific instruments depicted (in honor of discoveries in astronomy done by Greek and Islamic researchers at the time), and ongoing theme & discussion of The Enlightment and global exploration. Neoclassism in art refers to a European style of art, derived from Ancient Greek and Roman models and culture, and with a special emphasis on order, simplicity, discipline, and all that can be physically/emotionally attained in this life or another.
Want to learn more ? Check out these resources I used for my research below :
https://artuk.org/discover/artists/wright-of-derby-joseph-17341797