The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus

Painting by Joseph Wright of Derby

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

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.

## Description[edit]

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]

The Alchemist by Thomas Wijck

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[edit]

Since its exhibition in 1771, the picture has provoked many contradictory interpretations. Its mystery 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[edit]

1. ^ a b Vertesi, Janet. "Light and Enlightenment in Joseph Wright of Derby's The Alchymist". ReoCities. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
2. ^ "The Alchymist in Search of the Philosopher's Stone (Exhibited 1771)". Revolutionary Players. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
3. ^ Whitten, Kenneth W. (2007). Chemistry. Cengage Learning. p. 122\. ISBN 9780495011965.
4. ^ "Art treasure – The Alchymist". Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
5. ^ Nicolson 1968, p. 52.
6. ^ Nicolson 1968, p. 118.

* Nicolson, Benedict (1968). Joseph Wright of Derby: painter of light, Volume 1. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780710062840. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Joseph Wright of Derby

Paintings|

* Thomas Borrow and Ann Borrow (1762–63)
* Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator by Candlelight (1765)
* A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766)
* An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768)
* Two Girls Dressing a Kitten by Candlelight (c. 1768)
* A Philosopher by Lamplight (c. 1769)
* The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus (1771)
* The Blacksmith's Shop (1771)
* Miravan Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors (1772)
* The Earthstopper (1773)
* Grotto in the Gulf of Salerno (1774)
* The Captive (1774)
* Vesuvius from Posillipo by Moonlight (1774)
* Indian Widow (1783/84)
* Dovedale by Moonlight (1784)
* Romeo and Juliet: the Tomb Scene (1790)

Series|

* Vesuvius in Eruption (1773-1775)
* Virgil's Tomb (1779, 1782, 1785)

Drawings|

* The Captive King (1772)

Museums|

* Derby Museum and Art Gallery

* v
* t
* e

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Artists|

* Francis Leggatt Chantrey
* Ernest Ellis Clark
* W. J. Coffee
* Derby Sketching Club
* Harry Fidler
* Harold Gresley
* Count Holtzendorff
* Richard Hurleston
* Alfred John Keene
* Henry Lark Pratt
* David Payne
* Ronald Pope
* Samuel Rayner
* Louise Rayner
* Thomas Smith
* William Tate
* Ernest Townsend
* George Turner
* Joseph Wright of Derby

Geology|

* Ashford Black Marble
* John Farey
* William Martin
* Matlockite
* John Mawe
* White Watson
* John Whitehurst

Decorative arts|

* Bonnie Prince Charlie Room

Military history|

* 9th/12th Royal Lancers
* William Goate
* Robert Kells
* Francis O. Grenfell
* David Rushe
* David Spence
* Gen. Johnson Saving Officer from Tomahawk

Natural history|

* Allenton hippo
* King of Rome
* William Richardson Linton
* William Hunt Painter
* Joseph Whittaker

Joseph Wright
paintings and drawings|

* Richard Arkwright
* Grotto in the Gulf of Salerno
* A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery
* Indian Widow
* Romeo and Juliet: the Tomb Scene
* Miravan Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors
* The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus
* Virgil's Tomb
* The Blacksmith's Shop
* The Earthstopper
* A Philosopher by Lamplight
* Samuel Ward
* The Captive
* The Captive King
* Dovedale
* Thomas Borrow and Ann Borrow
* Vesuvius in Eruption

Porcelain|

* Chelsea porcelain factory
* Derby Porcelain
* Royal Crown Derby
* Pinxton Porcelain
* André Planché
* William Billingsley
* William Duesbury

Ancient Britain|

* Creswellian culture
* Derventio
* Strutt's Park Roman fort
* Derby Racecourse Roman settlement
* Hanson Log Boat
* Great Heathen Army
* Heath Wood barrow cemetery
* Codnor Castle
* Duffield Castle
* Icknield St.
* The Street
* The Long Lane

Science and engineering|

* Atlas Coelestis
* Benjamin Vulliamy
* Whitehurst & Son sundial

Related|

| Organisations|

* Andrew Handyside & Co.
* British Rail Research Division
* Derby Philosophical Society
* Derby Exhibition (1839)

|

People|

* Alkmund
* P. P. Burdett
* D'Ewes Coke
* Erasmus Darwin
* 6th Duke of Devonshire
* James Ferguson
* Arthur Keily
* R. K. Freeman
* Alfred E. Goodey
* Sir George Harpur Crewe
* Llewellynn Jewitt
* John Lombe
* William Mundy
* Joseph Pickford
* 5th Earl Ferrers
* George Sorocold
* Joseph Strutt
* Charles Sylvester

* Derby Silk Mill (Lombe's Mill)
* Pickford's House Museum
* Central Library

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template