Art Explained By A Writer: An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump (1768)

The envelope was served on a silver plate without a word and placed on the breakfast table. As Mylade looked at the maid she raised one eyebrow, nodded shortly and left the room.
That eyebrow. She knew Josphenine from childhood, best friends forever. Without touching the letter she looked at the tiny letters. She knew the handwriting, who sent it. The next invitation had been delivered. A cold shiver crawled down her spine. How to stop a cruel person, a man calling himself a scientist?

_{An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump - Joseph Wright 'of Derby' - 1768}

One is never too old or too young to learn, said grandfather. A device made partly of glass sat on the tabletop where everyone was sitting. What could it be?
The strange-looking scholar gave a lecture no one understood, but what everyone did see was that yet another animal, this time an eccentric-looking bird, was being put into the glass chamber.
Look carefully, said the man, I show you something unique. Watching was what no one would rather do. Only grandfather and uncle had the decency not to show their disgust.

Joseph watched the family scene where the mad professor seemed out of place. It was clearly the fate of the rich, those at the top, to give their opinion on science.

The moon shone through the trees and dark clouds appeared. One of the teenagers turned away because he could no longer tolerate the cruelty.
My love, come on, don't let it get to you, it's not our bird but his, whispered the husband, who felt his stomach turn but as a man he wouldn't be taken seriously if he showed that in public. Thank God it wasn't too bright in the room. That stupid device lightened the room enough and it wasn't a pretty sight. He glanced briefly at the corner where Joseph was sitting and who had been given the assignment to record the entire scene.

The young couple looked at each other and their look said enough.
The bird, yet another test object to show how a vacuum works, had sunk to the bottom. Could it still be brought back to life? The sketches would be the proof, a memory of this evening, just like the oil painting that Joseph would make. It had been a good suggestion made by ​​the young couple to invite him since he loved drama. Something he was fully presented with that evening and the animal abuser would be recorded forever.

The lecture ended abruptly and the family was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Their excitement was over, as had their interest in science and proving how a vacuum is created. The effect of air on a living creature had once again missed its mark, and the old, eccentric idiot knew that as he lifted his hand with the intention of filling the glass chamber with air again. All had been a useless act. The bird was dead, and he had missed his golden opportunity to become famous.

Art & Writing is hosted by @solperez
Painting: public domain


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