Caption: "Untitled painting, known as A philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery, in which a Lamp is put in place of the Sun or The Orrery." (Slightly edited.)

Read natural philosopher for philosopher and kerosene lamp for lamp.

An orrery is a mechanical Solar System model/representation. The orrery was named for Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery (1674--1731) for whom a prototype was built (see Wikipedia: Orrery: Modern orreries) and who was also the great nephew of Robert Boyle (1627--1691), one of the founders of modern chemistry.

The painting does NOT illustrate an experiment. It shows a demonstration of Solar System celestial mechanics in the early age of Newtonian physics. It also gives a bit of the flavor of 18th century experimental science.

If only we could experiment on stars, galaxies, and the universe.

Credit/Permission: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734--1797), circa 1766 (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Sage Ross (AKA User:Ragesoss), 2006) / Public domain.
Image link: Wikimedia Commons: File:Wright of Derby, The Orrery.jpg.
Local file: local link: joseph_wright_of_derby_orrery.html.
File: Art_j file: joseph_wright_of_derby_orrery.html.