Use And Reception
Use And Reception
Biography of Two Images
Chapter 2 provides a broader cultural, historical, and philosophical context for the work of Lord Rosse and by extension other nebular researchers. By following the public circulation and consumption, reproduction and presentation of two published images of the same object (M51), it is possible to explore how different publics used the images, what was expected of them, and how the images were fashioned or manipulated in order to fit particular purposes, arguments, or visions of the cosmos. Of particular interest is how the published images of the “Great Spiral” operated as the phenomenon to be explained by scientific theory. In light of their proxy status, the images were used to identify the possible mechanics, constitution, and structure of the object in space. At the same time they were also used to critique practices of looking and drawing, and to enlarge the public’s imagination and sometimes horror of the dark infinite. This chapter broadens our perspective of the power of the image of a nebula for Victorian audiences.
Keywords: William Whewell, John Pringle Nichol, Vincent Van Gogh, Camille Flammarion, Visual Culture, Circulation, Whirlpool Galaxy M51, Art and Science, Engraving
Chicago Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
