By 1822, when Charles Willson Peale painted his brother James studying a miniature by the light of an Argand lamp, such lighting devices had become a widely available, if relatively expensive, option for illuminating homes. Invented and patented in 1780 by a Swiss chemist and philosopher, the Argand lamp produced the light of 6 to 10 candles, a great improvement on oil lamps of the day. A circular wick mounted between two cylindrical metal tubes let air flow through the center of the wick, as well as outside of it, greatly improving brightness. Oil supplied from an attached reservoir fueled these lamps, designed in a variety of styles and materials. This early and unusual pair is distinguished by the use of cut and faceted glass almost to the exclusion of metal parts. Glittering and gleaming in an otherwise darkened parlor, these beautiful fixtures not only provided, but also celebrated light.