About this artwork
A warm, glowing sun sits at the centre of a set of tilted golden ellipses, each orbit drawn as a gilded ring that catches the light. Four small planets ride on the rings — a pale blue-grey world on the left, a tiny bronze one near the top and two amber and rose spheres on the right — giving the impression of a mechanism gently turning.
The composition has a clean, diagram-like clarity: one sun, a handful of orbits, and plenty of open indigo sky sprinkled with stars, with the Milky Way drifting across the upper left. At the base, swirling teal edged with gold rises on the left and bright pink on the right. As orrery wall art, it nods to the elegant brass models of the solar system once built for scholars and collectors, and it brings that sense of order and curiosity to studies, offices and libraries.
Orbits and the Orrery
Planets travel around the Sun on elliptical orbits, as Johannes Kepler showed in 1609, with the Sun at one focus of each ellipse. The closer a planet is, the faster it moves: Mercury circles the Sun in 88 days, while Saturn takes about 29 and a half years. Venus has the most nearly circular orbit of all the planets. Mechanical models of these motions are called orreries, after Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery, for whom an early example was made in the 18th century.
How to style it
A refined choice for a study, home office or library with brass and dark wood, and a natural partner for the armillary sphere and solar system designs in a vintage-astronomy set. Explore the full Celestial Wall Art collection.
Choose your format
- Unframed Art Print on 250 gsm archival matte fine-art paper with a soft off-white tone. Ideal if you already have a frame.
- Natural Wood Frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Black Metal Frame, a slim matte-black aluminium frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Aluminium Print, printed directly onto a rigid 3 mm aluminium panel for a sleek, frameless look.
- Wood Print, printed directly onto a 2 cm wood panel for a warm, natural, gallery feel.
Sizes
Seven portrait sizes from 20 × 30 cm (8 × 12 in) to 50 × 70 cm (20 × 28 in). Not sure which one? Read our size guide.
Shipping
Free tracked shipping to most countries. Every print is made to order and produced close to you, in more than 30 countries across Europe, the UK, North America and Australia, which means shorter journeys and fewer surprises at the door. See shipping & returns.
Questions & answers
What is an orrery?
An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system that shows the planets moving around the Sun. Traditionally made of brass and driven by gears, orreries were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries as teaching tools and as prized pieces for scientific collectors.
Are the orbits in this print to scale?
No. The design simplifies the solar system into a few graceful, tilted orbits and small planets, following the decorative spirit of antique diagrams rather than true distances or sizes.
Is a frame included?
Only if you choose a framed format. The Natural Wood Frame and Black Metal Frame options arrive assembled with acrylic glazing and are ready to hang. The Unframed Art Print arrives without a frame, and the Aluminium and Wood Prints need no frame at all.
Which size should I choose?
As a rule of thumb, choose art about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it. 50 × 70 cm makes a statement above a sofa or bed, 30 × 40 cm suits shelves, desks and gallery walls. Our size guide shows every size to scale.
How is my print made and shipped?
Each print is made to order for you, then shipped with tracking from a production partner close to your address. You receive the tracking link by email as soon as your order leaves production.
Specifications
| Format | Unframed Art Print, Natural Wood Frame, Black Metal Frame, Aluminium Print, Wood Print |
| Print Size | 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in, 30 × 40 cm / 12 × 16 in, 30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18 in, 40 × 50 cm / 16 × 20 in, 40 × 60 cm / 16 × 24 in, 45 × 60 cm / 18 × 24 in, 50 × 70 cm / 20 × 28 in |
Alternative Products
These other products might interest you