Tree Branches

Joseph Wright of Derby prints glow with candlelight and moonlight. Wright was an English painter of portraits and landscapes, hailed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution". His dramatic scenes of science experiments, blacksmiths and philosophers, lit by a single flame, are unlike anything else in British art. This collection gathers art prints of his candlelit subjects, Vesuvius and moonlit landscapes, and his Georgian portraits.

About Joseph Wright of Derby

Joseph Wright was born in Derby on 3 September 1734, the son of an attorney who was town clerk of Derby. At seventeen he went to London to study for two years with the portrait painter Thomas Hudson, who had also taught Joshua Reynolds. After a second spell as Hudson's assistant, he settled in Derby, painting portraits of local families.

In the 1760s he began painting dramatic scenes lit by a single candle or lamp, such as A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery and An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. His friend the doctor Erasmus Darwin brought him into the circle of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, a group of scientists and industrialists, which inspired many of these works. From 1768 to 1771 he worked in Liverpool, where he became known as Wright "of Derby".

In 1773 he married Ann Swift and set out for Italy, where Naples and Vesuvius made a lasting impression. After two years in Italy and a short stay in Bath, he returned to Derby, painting portraits, landscapes and moonlit scenes. He died in Derby on 29 August 1797.

Style and Subjects

Wright is best known for tenebrism, a strong contrast of light and dark. In his candlelit scenes, a single flame lights up faces in the darkness, creating drama and wonder. His subjects celebrated the new world of science and industry: lectures, experiments, forges and mills.

He also painted fiery views of Vesuvius and fireworks in Rome, moonlit landscapes of Derbyshire and Italy, and many fine portraits of Midlands gentry, industrialists and their families. His work is a vivid record of the Age of Enlightenment in England.

Famous Works

• Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator by Candlelight (1765). Three men study a sculpture by lamplight, his first candlelight subject.
• A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766), Derby Museum and Art Gallery. A lecturer explains a model of the solar system to a rapt audience.
• An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768), National Gallery, London. A scientist demonstrates a vacuum on a bird while onlookers react.
• A Philosopher by Lamplight (1769), Derby Museum and Art Gallery. A hermit-like philosopher in a cave, lit by a lamp.
• The Blacksmith's Shop (1770). Smiths at the anvil in the glow of hot iron.
• The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus (1771), Derby Museum and Art Gallery. An alchemist kneels before a glowing flask.
• Virgil's Tomb by Moonlight (1779). The poet's tomb near Naples under a full moon.

Decorating with Wright of Derby Prints

Wright's candlelit scenes are dramatic statement pieces for a study, library or dining room with dark walls and warm lighting. Their deep shadows and golden glow look wonderful in heavy gilt or black frames.

His moonlit landscapes and views of Vesuvius bring atmosphere to a living room or hallway, while his portraits of Georgian ladies and gentlemen suit a traditional sitting room or staircase.

FAQ

What art movement was Joseph Wright of Derby part of?

Wright worked in the 18th century and is linked with the Enlightenment and early Romanticism. He is especially known for tenebrism, the dramatic use of light and shadow.

What is Joseph Wright of Derby's most famous painting?

An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768), in the National Gallery in London, is his most famous work, along with A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766).

Where can I see Wright's original paintings?

Derby Museum and Art Gallery holds the largest collection. Others are at the National Gallery and Tate in London, Kenwood House and museums in Britain and the United States.

How can you recognize a Joseph Wright of Derby painting?

Look for scenes lit by a single candle, lamp or fire, with glowing faces surrounded by deep darkness. His landscapes often feature moonlight or volcanic fire.

Why is he called "of Derby"?

Wright was known as "of Derby" during his time in Liverpool, to tell him apart from another painter, Richard Wright. He was born, worked and died in Derby.

Related Artists

• Thomas Hudson — his teacher in London
• Gerard van Honthorst — Dutch master of candlelit scenes whose effects he echoed
• Thomas Gainsborough — leading English portraitist of the same era
• George Romney — fellow English portrait painter of the period
• Philip James de Loutherbourg — painter of industrial and dramatic night scenes