Final answer:
The subject matter of the painting 'A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery' by Joseph Wright of Derby is Scientific advancements of the Enlightenment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject matter of the painting 'A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery' by Joseph Wright of Derby is Scientific advancements of the Enlightenment. This painting depicts a lecture on an Orrery, which is a mechanical model of the solar system that was used to demonstrate the motions of the planets around the sun.
It represents the fascination with scientific knowledge and the Enlightenment's focus on reason and understanding the natural world.