An alchemist in his study, discovering phosphorus; a young man and a boy in the background. Mezzotint by W. Pether, 1775, after J. Wright of Derby, 1771.

  • Wright, Joseph, 1734-1797.
Date:
[Sep.r 1st 1775]
Reference:
575776i
  • Pictures
  • Online

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Also known as

After a painting exhibited as : 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
Benedict Nicolson's title : The alchemist in search of the philosopher's stone, discovers phosphorus

Description

The procedure is based on a description in an English translation by Andrew Reid of a book by by Pierre Joseph Macquer, Elements of the theory and practice of chymistry, London: Printed for A. Millar, and J. Nourse etc., 1758. It is summarised by Nicolson (op. cit., p. 119) as follows: "The materials from which the phosphorus is prepared [i.e. urine] are heated in a furnace and the phosphorus distilled over into a glass receiver. The end of the retort protrudes from the furnace, and the receiver, known as a balloon, is luted to the retort. The balloon is nearly half filled with water, and as the phosphorus distils over, the upper part is filled with luminous vapour; while from a small hole in the top near the neck of the balloon, the vapour rises in a luminous jet."

Publication/Creation

[London (in Broad St.t St. James's] : [Published ... and sold by W. Pether], [Sep.r 1st 1775]

Physical description

1 print : mezzotint ; image 54.5 x 39.7 cm

Lettering

Jos.h Wright pinx.t ; W.m Pether fecit.

References note

Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby, painter of light. London 1968, vol. 1, pp. 118-120, p. 236, no. 195 (as "The alchemist in search of the philosopher's stone, discovers phosphorus", and referred to in Wright's account book as "The chymist")
Domenika Cora, 'New light on the life and work of the mezzotint engraver William Pether (1739-1821)', Print quarterly, 2021, 38: 289-301, p. 301, no. 39

Reference

Wellcome Collection 575776i

Type/Technique

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link