Joseph Wright of Derby 1734 - 1797

Self Portrait at 19 years of age (1753)- Derby Museum & Art Gallery - this is a very assured painting for such a young man.

We have recently attended a lecture on Joseph Wright of Derby at our Fine Art Society. I briefly mentioned him and his influence on my own appreciation of art in this post. This has prompted me to, possibly introduce him to you, or may be reacquaint you with him.

He is always known as Wright of Derby, maybe because it was where he was born and lived most of his life. Whether travelling on the Grand Tour to Italy, painting portraits in Liverpool, Bath and London, Derby was the place that took centre stage for him, and the refuge to which he always returned.

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery 1766 - Derby Museum & Art Gallery

This is the painting that had me enthralled as a young girl. On many occasions, when waiting to catch the bus home from school, I would go into the gallery to look at it. The Orrery painting captures the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment.
Consistent with the Orrery's astronomical theme, the partially illuminated faces may represent the phases of the moon, full moon (the children) waxing moon (the man on the left) waning moon (the man on the right) new moon (the figure seen from behind). The figure to the left taking notes is said to be Wright's great friend Peter Perez Burdett, and the Philosopher, John Whitehurst, Lunar member and Horologist.
His paintings were greatly influenced by the group of scientists and industrialists living in the Derby area and surrounding cities, an area known as the "Industrial Midlands". Many of them were members of the Lunar Society, to which he also belonged. He has been acclaimed as the first painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution, however, his most abiding interest was in the effects of light.

Monument in Derby to Joseph Wright showing the orrery. An orrery is a mechanical device that illustrates the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons in the Solar System in a heliocentric model.Though the Greeks had working planetaria, the first orrery that was a planetarium of the modern era was produced in 1704, and one was presented to the Earl of Orrery - whence the name came.

There is a very strong element of realism in Wright's portraiture, and that is why he was not popular with the aristocracy and ladies who wanted their portraits to be flattering.

Dr. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles. Painting owned by Darwin College, Cambridge University. He was one of the leading intellectuals of 18th C England, and lived in Derby; a man with a remarkable array of interests and pursuits. Erasmus was a respected physician, a well known poet, philosopher, botanist, and naturalist. He devised one of the first formal theories on evolution in Zoonomia, or The Laws of Organic life. He was also a leading member of the Lunar Society. 

Portrait of Sir Richard Arkwright - Private collection. 

Sir Richard was a self-made man, who was a leading Derbyshire entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution. He is often credited with inventing the spinning frame - later renamed the water frame following the transition to water power. He patented a carding engine that could convert raw cotton into yarn. When he died he left the equivalent of 80 million pounds today. He was extremely proud of this portrait, it showed him exactly as he was, and with a piece of his spinning equipment on the table beside him.

Portrait of Mrs. Andrew Lindington, known to be a "sitter" from Derby, and owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, shows her exquisitely worked ivory coloured silk lace shawl. She sports a large bunch of fresh pink roses and lily of the valley, probably supported by a tin funnel placed low in her cleavage. Pink roses represent perfect happiness, and Lily of the Valley means return to happiness; humility. She is wearing a beautifully painted rope of pearls, and is expensively attired.

Three persons viewing a Gladiator statue by candlelight - Private collection. In this picture we again see Wright's friend Peter Perez Burdett.

Wright's paintings showing his great interest in the effects of light range from candlelight pictures, blacksmiths' forges, to fireworks in Rome and the spectacular eruptions of Vesuvius.

Girl reading letter by candlelight with young man peering over her shoulder, and looking rather anxious - Private collection

Two girls dressing a kitten by candlelight - their doll has been abandoned on the table - collection of Kenwood House, London.

The Annual Girandola, at the Castle of St. Angelo, Rome - Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Eruption of Vesuvius seen from Portici in 1774 - collection of University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Finally probably Wright's most famous painting - An experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump - National Gallery, London.
This painting depicts a natural philosopher, a forerunner of the modern scientist, recreating one of Robert Boyle's air pump experiments, in which a bird is deprived of air, before a varied group of onlookers. The group exhibits different reactions, but for most of the audience the scientific curiosity overcomes concern for the bird. The central figure looks out of the picture as if inviting the viewer's participation in the outcome. This painting also shows Wright's obsession with the use of light - the light thrown up from the experiment and the lighter silver moonlight coming through the window on the right hand side.

Detail showing the anxiety of the two girls in the group.
all images courtesy wiki-paintings