‘Chemical Lectures’, 1810

Description

Mounted hand coloured etching, entitled ‘Chemical lectures’, designed, etched, and published by Thomas Rowlandson in 1810.

In this accurate depiction of the Surrey Institution, Friederich Christian Accum (1769-1838), who was the Professor of Chemistry at the Surrey Institution, delivers a scientific lecturer and demonstration to a large and attentive audience.

The Surrey Institution was an organisation devoted to scientific education and research, based in London. It was founded by private subscription in 1807, taking the Royal Institution – founded in 1799 – as a model. The institution lasted until 1823, when it was dissolved.

The caricature is of interest both for its depiction of the lecture hall at the Surrey Institution and for its portrayal of the scientific lecturers and demonstrations that went on there. The scowling old man located in the second row of the audience, wearing a bagwig, has a paper entitled “Accum’s Lectures” (published in 1809 and 1810) in his pocket.