The air pump was invented in 1650, but its spirit of democratic sharing of scientific truths was modern. “The dissemination of knowledge was something new for the 18th century,” Riding told the BBC.
depiction of modern life
And this leads to the second element of modern art: the expression of modernization in society. This breakthrough is usually attributed to pioneering artists of the 1800s such as JMW Turner.
Christine Riding believes that Wright’s innovations in this area were inspired by the changing exhibition opportunities for British artists at the time. Until the creation of the Royal Academy, artists had a number of competing exhibition venues to choose from. One of these was the Institute of British Artists, where “The Bird Experiment in the Air Pump” was shown to the public for the first time. “The Society of Artists encouraged art, science and manufacturing,” says Riding. “This world did not tend to separate art and science; they tended to be seen as one and the same.”
Wright took decisive advantage of this new art scene and the promotion of interdisciplinary thinking it fostered. It inspired him to make science the subject of art. It also reflected the broader changes taking place in 18th century society, such as the Industrial Revolution that was just beginning to take off in England, the epicenter of which was Wright’s birthplace of the Midlands. And Wright was smart enough to recognize the spirit of modernization and record it for posterity.
He also knew some of the prominent figures of this important era, including members of the Birmingham Lunar Society, who met to discuss scientific and industrial innovation, and Richard Arkwright, the leading entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution.
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com
