Picturing the immaterial in the Age of Industry: Mary Somerville and her artistic circles
Mary Somerville (1780–1872) made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, geology and meteorology. Her extensive and popular writing sought to uncover and conceptualise intangible and imperceptible forces such as climate.

Besides her scientific pursuits, Somerville was also a skilled landscape artist. Sarah Gould will explore how Somerville introduced fresh visual codes for picturing these boundless forces. This was especially crucial during the Industrial Revolution, when artists grappled with representing the transformed atmosphere they breathed.

After her death, Mary Somerville continued to inspire generations as the namesake of Somerville College, Oxford.

Programmed in collaboration with the Oxford Long Nineteenth Century Seminar.
Date: 18 October 2023, 11:10 (Wednesday, 2nd week, Michaelmas 2023)
Venue: Weston Library, Broad Street OX1 3BG
Venue Details: Sir Victor Blank Lecture Theatre, Weston Library & online
Speaker: Sarah Gould (Université Paris 1-Panthéon Sorbonne)
Organiser contact email address: bookcentre@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Booking required?: Recommended
Booking url: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/oct23/mary-somerville
Booking email: bookcentre@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Lucy Bayley