Gassendi's Crater on the Moon

Brett based his tenebrous rendering of Gassendi crater on direct observation through a telescope. During this era, astronomical photography was frequently pitted against drawing, which continued to be more reliable in spite of its subjectivity. In this case, Brett’s reputation as a painter of idyllic Pre-Raphaelite landscapes does not appear to have undermined his drawing’s credibility. The same cannot be said of his other scientific exploits. As a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, he sparked controversy by suggesting that the planet Venus might be a molten ball of metal contained inside an envelope of glass.