During the Enlightenment knowledge truly became power. Kant told us to "dare to know!" and smart became the new sexy.

The mechanism the figures are standing around is called an orrery- its a clockwork display showing the solar system. Professor bowtie over there is probably fascinating young and old with the intricacies of our solar system.

My favourite part of this artwork is the fact that the light source is smack bam in the middle of the painting, as opposed to to the side. This makes the shadows it casts onto the figures so much more fascinating. Imagine how the lights and shadows would look if the orrery was moving!