Detail from Joseph Wright of Derby, 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump', 1768.
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Demonstration of the Formation of a Vacuum

In this painting a travelling scientist is shown creating a vacuum in a glass jar by pumping out all of the air. A white cockatoo has been placed in the jar to show the dramatic effect of creating the vacuum: as the air is removed the bird becomes weaker; it will die if the demonstrator continues to deprive it of oxygen.

Air pumps were developed in the 17th century and were relatively familiar by Wright's day. In this painting, the artist's subject is not scientific invention, but a human drama in a night-time setting. The painter captures a wide range of individual reactions to the fate of the bird, from the frightened children, through the reflective philosopher, the excited interest of the boy on the left, to the indifferent young lovers concerned only with each other.


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