Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.8772
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Thunderstorm near St Albans, Hertfordshire
Date
1781
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 120mm
width (painting): 166mm
width (painting): 166mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Not published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Illustration to accompany Michael Lort’s letter on the effects of a thunderstorm, showing a broad monochrome arch in the clouds above a landscape of road and trees. A horse-drawn cart and a foot traveller can be seen on the road. Inscribed below: “The representation of the Heavens as seen (nr St Albans) previous to that dreadful storm of thunder lightning & rain which hapned on the 19 of June 1781”. Not signed.
The painting was shown to Fellows at a meeting of the Royal Society on 8 November 1781. An accompanying note [L&P/7/219/2] gives brief details of the anonymous artist and the circumstances of the painting: “This drawing was taken by an Ingenious artist who was on the road a little beyond St Albans a little after 6 o Clock on Tuesday Evening June 19th. I believe he is no astronomer but he tells me that in the midst of a gloomy Hemisphere a broad bright arch appeared & lasted for near 10 minutes during the time of a very violent & continued Storm of Thunder & Lightning which was succeeded by as violent Rain”.
The painting was shown to Fellows at a meeting of the Royal Society on 8 November 1781. An accompanying note [L&P/7/219/2] gives brief details of the anonymous artist and the circumstances of the painting: “This drawing was taken by an Ingenious artist who was on the road a little beyond St Albans a little after 6 o Clock on Tuesday Evening June 19th. I believe he is no astronomer but he tells me that in the midst of a gloomy Hemisphere a broad bright arch appeared & lasted for near 10 minutes during the time of a very violent & continued Storm of Thunder & Lightning which was succeeded by as violent Rain”.
Associated place