Percival Lowell and the Discovery of Pluto (Original)

Artist: John Keay
Medium: Watercolour on Board
Size: 7" x 6" (190mm x 160mm)
Date: 1979
Code: KeayTelescope

This is the unique original Watercolour painting by John Keay.

Memorial in the Skies. Percival Lowell, the American astronomer, concluded there was a ninth planet as yet undetected. But his telescope was inadequate, and when he died, on 12th November, 1916, his theory was unproved. Lowell, however, had made plans for the construction of a new telescope, and had prepared a programme for further observation.

This was faithfully carried out by his assistants, including Clyde Tombaugh. It was Tombaugh who, over 13 years after Lowell's death, finally achieved success.

Original artwork for illustration on p2 of Look and Learn issue no. 930 (7 November 1979).

• Artist Biography
  John R Keay; UK
  Artist who contributed to the 'This Made Headlines' and 'Dateline' series which appeared on the inside front cover of Look and Learn in the late 1970s.
  
  Keay had a highly distinctive style, achieving an unusual smoothness of texture in his illustrations, both in colour and black and white. He usually signed his pictures “Keay”. Keay was represented by John Martin & Artists and also illustrated books, including Kings of Israel by David Kent (1981).
  
  John Keay is not to be mistaken for Jack Keay (qv) who also contributed to Look and Learn.