Joseph Wright of Derby

Key facts

Lived

1734–1797, British

• What is Joseph Wright of Derby's most famous work?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) is most famous for *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump*, completed in 1768 and now at the National Gallery, London. Wright trained in London, but worked primarily in London and Derby. *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* depicts a group of people gathered around a scientific experiment. A scientist demonstrates an early air pump. The device removes air from a glass bowl, causing a bird inside to collapse from lack of oxygen. The scientist can then reintroduce oxygen, reviving the bird. The painting uses chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, reminiscent of Baroque religious art. The artist uses this lighting to link religion and science. Wright was known for this type of painting, which blended images of the merchant class and wealthy entrepreneurs with scientific developments of the Industrial Revolution. His patrons included Josiah Wedgwood and Richard Arkwright. Wright’s work visually documents the culture of the Lunar Society, an organisation that championed scientific advances.
• What should I know about Joseph Wright of Derby's prints?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby did not produce many prints himself. Instead, he, like other painters, relied on printmakers to reproduce his paintings for wider distribution. This was a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries, allowing those who could not afford original paintings to own a version of the artwork. The print market in Britain during Wright's time catered to a broad audience. Prints were sold in corner shops and print shops, often purchased more for their subject matter than their artistic quality. Publishers sometimes used appealing titles to attract buyers to their catalogues. Size was also an important factor, with prints expected to be large enough to fill a wall and resemble fine artworks when framed. Publishers, painters, and engravers engaged in negotiations regarding copyrights, contracts for picture loans, and deadlines. Publishers would often exhibit the painting to attract subscribers for the engraving, gauging the edition size based on interest. Gimmicks, such as artist-signed proofs, special papers, or engraver's doodles (remarques), increased a print's value.
• What style or movement did Joseph Wright of Derby belong to?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) is not easily categorised, but he had links to both Rococo and Neoclassical styles. He trained with Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), a Rococo painter, in London from 1751. Wright is known for paintings that merged portraiture with scenes of scientific developments during the Industrial Revolution. His style incorporates detailed naturalism. Wright's realism was attractive to industrialists of his day. His paintings often feature dramatic candlelit or moonlit scenes, using chiaroscuro effects similar to those found in Baroque religious art. An example is *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768). This work, and others, depict gatherings of people observing scientific experiments. Wright was associated with the Lunar Society, a group that promoted scientific advancement. After his Grand Tour, he settled in Derby and joined the Lunar Society. Wright's subjects included the demonstration of the orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system. He also painted Mount Vesuvius, paying attention to its geological implications.
• What techniques or materials did Joseph Wright of Derby use?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) is known for his innovative treatment of light, particularly his dramatic use of chiaroscuro. This can be seen in paintings such as *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768) and *A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery* (1766). Wright often depicted scenes illuminated by a single, strong light source, creating a theatrical effect. He achieved this through careful layering of paint and a sophisticated understanding of light and shadow. Wright's skill in depicting artificial light sources, such as candles, lamps, and scientific instruments, set him apart from many of his contemporaries. While oil paint was his primary medium, Wright also produced pastels and experimented with printmaking techniques, including mezzotints. His preparatory process often involved detailed drawings and sketches to plan his compositions and lighting effects. Wright’s approach combined close observation with a flair for the dramatic, resulting in images that are both realistic and visually arresting.
• What was Joseph Wright of Derby known for?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) is known for paintings that explore light and illumination. He moved from Derby to London in 1751 to train with Thomas Hudson, who also taught Joshua Reynolds. Wright worked in London and Derby, and also spent several years in Bath, Liverpool and Italy. Wright's paintings often depict scientific developments of the Industrial Revolution. He was interested in mankind’s encounter with technology, innovation and invention. His close friends included factory owners and scientists. Wright joined the Lunar Society, an organisation that championed scientific advances. His patrons included Josiah Wedgwood, Richard Arkwright, and Erasmus Darwin; most were members of the Lunar Society. Wright's *Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768) depicts a group gathered around a scientific experiment. A scientist demonstrates the principle of the vacuum, using a pump to empty a glass sphere of air, in which a bird struggles. Wright uses light for dramatic effect, creating a theatrical scene. The painting uses religious iconography to portray a worldly situation, elevating the scientific experiment.
• When did Joseph Wright of Derby live and work?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby was born in Derby in 1734 and died there in 1797. He spent his career painting in locations including London, Derby, Bath, Liverpool and Italy. Wright apprenticed with Thomas Hudson in London from 1751. Later, from 1773 to 1775, he undertook a Grand Tour of Italy. While there, he witnessed an eruption of Mount Vesuvius; this event inspired several paintings. Wright is known for paintings that combine portraiture with scenes of scientific and industrial developments. His sitters included merchants, entrepreneurs, and members of the Lunar Society. This organisation promoted the practical application of scientific advances. His paintings often feature dramatic lighting effects. An example is *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768). It depicts a scientific demonstration, with light and shadow used to theatrical effect. Wright's interest in technology, innovation, and invention is a recurring theme in his work.
• Where can I see Joseph Wright of Derby's work?+

  You can find Joseph Wright of Derby's paintings in several public collections. In London, visit the National Gallery, which holds *An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump*. The National Portrait Gallery and the Tate also hold examples of his work. Outside London, the Manchester Art Gallery has works by Wright. The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh also hold pieces. In the United States, collections holding Wright's art include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. You can also find his work at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto also holds pieces.
• Where was Joseph Wright of Derby from?+

  Joseph Wright, later known as Wright of Derby, was born in Derby, England, on 3 September 1734. He spent most of his career in that city, establishing himself as a significant artist of the Midlands. Wright's connection to Derby was more than just geographical; it shaped his artistic identity. Although he spent periods in Liverpool and Bath, he always returned to Derby. His paintings often reflect the industrial and scientific activities of the region, marking him as a key figure in portraying the Enlightenment. His decision to remain in Derby, rather than moving to London, contributed to his unique style. He was less influenced by the dominant artistic trends of the capital. This allowed him to develop his own approach to painting, particularly his celebrated candlelight scenes. Wright died in his native Derby on 29 August 1797, solidifying his place as one of the city's most important figures.
• Who did Joseph Wright of Derby influence?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) trained with Thomas Hudson, who also taught Joshua Reynolds. Wright is known for a new type of portraiture that combined images of the merchant class with scenes of scientific developments of the Industrial Revolution. Wright's patrons included Josiah Wedgwood, Richard Arkwright, and Erasmus Darwin. Most of Wright’s patrons frequented the Lunar Society; thus, the ideas formed by this group of scholars and scientists fuelled many of the advances of the Industrial Revolution. Wright's paintings can be appreciated as visual documentation of this culture. His painting, *Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768), depicts a group of people gathered around a scientific experiment. The painting is set in a dark room with a direct light source that creates a high chiaroscuro contrast. The image borrows from religious images of the baroque era that symbolise the divine presence through dramatic lighting. The painting shows how air is denied to a bird in a glass bowl. The scientist then saves the bird by reintroducing oxygen. The artist produced numerous paintings depicting the industrial and scientific advancements of his day.
• Who influenced Joseph Wright of Derby?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) trained with Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), a rococo painter who also taught Joshua Reynolds. Wright's style also shows the influence of artists such as Caravaggio, Correggio, and Honthorst. Wright is known for paintings that combined portraits of the merchant class with scenes of scientific developments during the Industrial Revolution. Scottish scientist James Ferguson's lectures on mechanics in 1762 inspired Wright's painting *Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery* (1766). Wright's *Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump* (1768) uses chiaroscuro lighting, similar to that found in religious images of the baroque era. This work depicts reactions to an experiment using a new air pump. The scientist revives a bird by reintroducing oxygen, and the scene links religion with science. Wright joined the Lunar Society, and his patrons included Josiah Wedgwood, Richard Arkwright, and Erasmus Darwin. His paintings visually document the culture of scientific advancement.
• Who was Joseph Wright of Derby?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) was from Derby. In 1751, he moved to London to study with Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), a rococo painter who also taught Joshua Reynolds. Wright worked in London and Derby, and for some years in Bath, Liverpool, and Italy. His time in Italy, during his Grand Tour from 1773 to 1775, included witnessing an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The geological implications interested him, and became the subject of several paintings. Wright is known for a type of portraiture that combined images of the merchant class and wealthy entrepreneurs with scenes of scientific developments from the Industrial Revolution. Wright's acquaintances included factory owners and scientists. He was interested in mankind’s encounter with technology, innovation, and invention. Wright's paintings often explore the effects of light and illumination. He is known for his use of dramatic chiaroscuro. After his Grand Tour, he settled in Derby and joined the Lunar Society. This organisation championed scientific advances and their practical application. Its members were mainly industrialists, wealthy merchants, and the intelligentsia in newly industrialised cities such as Birmingham. His 1768 painting, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, is in the National Gallery, London.
• Why are Joseph Wright of Derby's works important today?+

  Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) is significant for his treatment of light, and for his engagement with Enlightenment science and industry. He moved away from traditional subject matter. Instead, he depicted philosophical and scientific instruments, and factories. Wright's best-known paintings include "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" (1768) and "A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery" (1766). These works show gatherings of people illuminated by a single source. The settings resemble Caravaggio's religious scenes, but Wright replaced saints with scientists. He thus created a new type of history painting. Wright also painted industrial subjects. "An Iron Forge" (1772) presents factory workers with a grandeur usually reserved for classical heroes. He found the aesthetic in modern production. His images of factories and mines are important records of Britain's industrial revolution. They also show how artists adapted to a rapidly changing world. His innovative compositions, combined with his interest in contemporary subjects, make Wright an important figure in British art. He offers insight into the artistic and intellectual concerns of his time.