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Joseph Wright of Derby, A.R.A
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Description
Joseph Wright of Derby, A.R.A
1734-1797
study of a boy reading
inscribed by William Bemrose on the reverse of mount: Drawn by/''Wright of Derby''/WBemrose/N.B. This drawing will be spoilt if/touched by finger, brush or...
black and white chalk on laid paper
42 by 28 cm., 16I by 11 in.
!66000-99000
The present drawing which dates from circa 1766 is a rare work in chalk by Wright of Derby. It is of particular interest because the boy whom he depicts is also one of the models used in his first scientific painting 'A Philosopher giving the lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place ofthe Sun', which was exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1766 (no.195) and bought by Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (see fig.1). He is the boy aged 10-12 shown intently gazing down into the orrery with the light from the lamp striking him full in the face as in this drawing.
His identity is unknown but tradition suggests that he may be a friend or relation of Earl Ferrers. Two other figures in the 'orrery' have traditionally and convincingly been identified - the boy with his back to us as Ferrers' nephew Lawrence Shirley and the man taking notes as his friend Peter Perez Burdett (his portrait by Wright dated 1765 is in the Narodni Galerie, Prague). Judy Egerton suggests that this may even be a scene in Ferrers' house at Staunton Harold and that the figure on the right could be Earl Ferrers himself (see Judy Egerton, Wright of Derby, Exhibition Catalogue, 1990, p.54).
Alternatively a contemporary of Wright of Derby, the architect James Gandon records in his memoirs in 1846 while discussing the 'Orrery' that "the gentleman taking notes was a Mr Burdett: the remainder of the audience were either relatives or friends''. (see Egerton, op. cit., Essay by David Fraser, p.16-17). This seems more probable as the present drawing is clearly not a direct preparatory work for the 'Orrery' but perhaps the sitter was a ready-to -hand model on whose face the artist could practice his skill at portraying the play of light, with the oil in mind.
Wright of Derby's known portrait studies in black and white chalk tend to date from the 1760s. Three were exhibited in the 1990 Wright of Derby exhibition- two self-portraits dating from circa 1765 and circa 1767-70 (nos. 43 and 54, both Derby Art Gallery) and two studies of young girls in costume from circa 1768 (nos. 71 and 72, Henry Reitlinger Trustees and Private Collection). These chalk drawings appear to show the influence of the drawings and engraved works of the Irishman Thomas Frye from which Wright derived ideas (see Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby, Painter of Light, 1968, vol.I, pp.42-44 and 48-49). All have the same contemplative, tranquil air of the present work, the same confident handling and extraordinary quality.
This drawing once belonged to William Bemrose, the son of a descendent of Wright of Derby and his first biographer. In 1885, he published 'Life & Works of Joseph Wright, commonly called 'Wright of Derby'
We are grateful to Jane Wallis of Derby Art Gallery for her help in cataloguing this lot.
Provenance:
By descent from the artist to Margaret Romana Simpson, who married William Bemrose Senr., 1858;
Their son William Bemrose, by 1883
Exhibited:
Derby Corporation Art Gallery, Catalogue of Paintings by Wright of Derby, 1883, no.55 as 'Portrait - A Boy Reading (in crayon)'
1734-1797
study of a boy reading
inscribed by William Bemrose on the reverse of mount: Drawn by/''Wright of Derby''/WBemrose/N.B. This drawing will be spoilt if/touched by finger, brush or...
black and white chalk on laid paper
42 by 28 cm., 16I by 11 in.
!66000-99000
The present drawing which dates from circa 1766 is a rare work in chalk by Wright of Derby. It is of particular interest because the boy whom he depicts is also one of the models used in his first scientific painting 'A Philosopher giving the lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place ofthe Sun', which was exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1766 (no.195) and bought by Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (see fig.1). He is the boy aged 10-12 shown intently gazing down into the orrery with the light from the lamp striking him full in the face as in this drawing.
His identity is unknown but tradition suggests that he may be a friend or relation of Earl Ferrers. Two other figures in the 'orrery' have traditionally and convincingly been identified - the boy with his back to us as Ferrers' nephew Lawrence Shirley and the man taking notes as his friend Peter Perez Burdett (his portrait by Wright dated 1765 is in the Narodni Galerie, Prague). Judy Egerton suggests that this may even be a scene in Ferrers' house at Staunton Harold and that the figure on the right could be Earl Ferrers himself (see Judy Egerton, Wright of Derby, Exhibition Catalogue, 1990, p.54).
Alternatively a contemporary of Wright of Derby, the architect James Gandon records in his memoirs in 1846 while discussing the 'Orrery' that "the gentleman taking notes was a Mr Burdett: the remainder of the audience were either relatives or friends''. (see Egerton, op. cit., Essay by David Fraser, p.16-17). This seems more probable as the present drawing is clearly not a direct preparatory work for the 'Orrery' but perhaps the sitter was a ready-to -hand model on whose face the artist could practice his skill at portraying the play of light, with the oil in mind.
Wright of Derby's known portrait studies in black and white chalk tend to date from the 1760s. Three were exhibited in the 1990 Wright of Derby exhibition- two self-portraits dating from circa 1765 and circa 1767-70 (nos. 43 and 54, both Derby Art Gallery) and two studies of young girls in costume from circa 1768 (nos. 71 and 72, Henry Reitlinger Trustees and Private Collection). These chalk drawings appear to show the influence of the drawings and engraved works of the Irishman Thomas Frye from which Wright derived ideas (see Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby, Painter of Light, 1968, vol.I, pp.42-44 and 48-49). All have the same contemplative, tranquil air of the present work, the same confident handling and extraordinary quality.
This drawing once belonged to William Bemrose, the son of a descendent of Wright of Derby and his first biographer. In 1885, he published 'Life & Works of Joseph Wright, commonly called 'Wright of Derby'
We are grateful to Jane Wallis of Derby Art Gallery for her help in cataloguing this lot.
Provenance:
By descent from the artist to Margaret Romana Simpson, who married William Bemrose Senr., 1858;
Their son William Bemrose, by 1883
Exhibited:
Derby Corporation Art Gallery, Catalogue of Paintings by Wright of Derby, 1883, no.55 as 'Portrait - A Boy Reading (in crayon)'