
3 4 c m
40cm
actual image size: 32cm x 26cm
Description
Print by Robert Sayer and Co, London, dated 1793 showing a lady viewing through a telescope while a gentleman views her with an eyeglas. Titled 'Viewing the Transit of Venus', the caption is a play-on-words with respect to astronomy. A gentleman looks through his glases at a young woman as she leans forward showing her cleavage to use the telescope; a satyr in the garden has an emulatory leer. The Transit of Venus was a rare astronomical event that occurred in 1761 and 1769 and allowed them to accurately measure the size of the Solar System.
Image Details
Image Ref.
10311935
© Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library