The Cultural Review

Joseph Wright Of Derby

1 article

18th-century figures observing a bird in an air pump, illuminated by candlelight, representing early modern art.
Art

Redefining Modern Art's Origins

In 1768, Joseph Wright of Derby painted 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump,' a dramatic scene of scientific inquiry now argued to be modern art's true genesis.

Matteo Ricci·September 17, 2026