New Discoveries in Pneumaticks

Or: An Experimental Lecture on the Powers of Air, a historic cartoon by James Gillray, 1802.

An etching of a lecture given in 1802, depicting Thomas Young or Thomas Garnett giving laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to Sir John Hippisley

Description

This etching depicts a lecture given in 1802. It shows either Thomas Young or Thomas Garnett giving laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to Sir John Hippisley, with unfortunate results. Assisting the lecturer is Humphry Davy, who you can see manipulating the gas bags behind the bench. On the lecture table you can see air-pumps, receivers and pneumatic toys displayed. 

The lecture was entitled ‘New Discoveries in Pneumatics’ and advertised the work that a young Humphry Davy had undertaken in Bristol while at the Pneumatics Society working with Dr Thomas Beddoes. The audience contains several famous people of the day including Count Rumford, William Sotheby, Frederica Augusta Locke and Issac D’Israeli.

The etching was produced by James Gillray (13th August 1756-1st June 1815), a British caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810.

The Royal Institution is closed 19 March

The Ri is closed this week on Tuesday 19 March.