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Notes

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The scene depicted here is William Lawrence Bragg (1890–1971) giving the 1961 Christmas Lectures on ‘Electricity’ at the Royal Institution. Bragg is facing the audience, using a glass rod to demonstrate the effect of static electricity generated by the Wimshurst machine, operated by his assistant Bill Coates. The Christmas Lectures are a short series scientific demonstration lectures given by a top scientist to an audience of young people. They were started in 1825 and have been given every year since, apart from the early 1940s. Since 1966 they have been shown on television. This painting was based on the first lecture of the series. You can see Bragg’s wife and grandchildren in the front row and people sometimes spot themselves in the audience.

The Royal Institution

London

Title

Sir Lawrence Bragg Giving the 1961 Christmas Lectures in the Royal Institution Theatre

Date

1962

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 120 x W 172 cm

Accession number

RIIC 0621

Acquisition method

commissioned, 1961

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The Royal Institution

21 Albermarle Street, London, Greater London W1S 4BS England

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