Extract from a Letter from Buxton Wells, January 3, 1785.
“Governor Elliot’s successful defence of Gibraltar has, among the many essential advantages accruing from it, been productive of some of the noblest works in the Fine Arts, especially among the painters. On stopping at Derby a few days since, I was introduced by a friend to view the productions of that great genius Wright, whose astonishing power of expressing artificial lights on canvas, the world has long been acquainted with. His new picture on the Siege of Gibraltar, for composition, force, brilliancy, and prodigious effect of fire, exceeds, in my opinion, all his former labours. To attempt a description of it would be in vain; whoever sees the picture must have such an idea of the action as no poetry can describe. Mr. Wright has not been in the Exhibition (for reasons I cannot explain) for some time past, but that he will not withhold this sublime piece from general inspection, I most sincerely hope, as the attack on Gibraltar, with some other pieces on interesting subjects, would form an Exhibition in every way worthy of the countenance of the public.”
The “Orrery” picture was exhibited at the Society of Artists’ Rooms, in 1766, so must have been painted when Wright was thirty years old. It was purchased by, and probably painted for, the Earl Ferrers, for the sum of two hundred guineas; fifty pounds of this was paid on account, and the remainder secured by a bond, of which a copy is given on the next page.
The figures in the picture are all portraits, and various persons have been mentioned as the probable originals who were thus honoured. A copy of the print, once belonging to the artist, has certain names written on the margin, with the date 1768, so that the following are identified:—Jos. Wright, with his back towards the spectator, Mr. Burdett taking notes, young Cantrell, Mr. A. Winterman, Mr. G. Snowden, Mrs. Sale, and Mr. Denby as the philosopher.
Mr. Burdett also figures in the “Gladiator” picture. The other boy sitter was a son of Earl Ferrers, as the following extract from the “Stemmata Shirleiana” shows:—“Lawrence Rowland, 2nd Son of Robert 6th Earl of Ferrers, Bap. at St. Alkmund’s Derby, Nov. 3, 1757, d. Feb. 5, 1773. His portrait when very young is preserved in Wright’s celebrated picture of the ‘Orrery,’ well known from the engraving.”
The picture passed from the hands of the Ferrers family, and was sold by Mr. Thos. Rought, of London, to the late Mr. Francis Wright, of Osmaston Manor, by Ashbourne, for the sum of fifty guineas, in 1853. In 1884, at the dispersion of Mr. John Osmaston’s collection, to whom the picture then belonged, it was again in the market, and it is with pleasure that we are able to record that, being purchased by a few of Wright’s admirers, singularly, at the original price of two hundred guineas, it was on September 4th presented to the Derby Corporation Art Gallery as a memorial to the painter, where it will remain as a fitting record of the admirable powers he possessed, and be admired by his fellow-townsmen in years to come.
The bond mentioned above was as follows:—
Know all men by these presents That we the Right Honourable Washington Earl of Ferrers Peter Pery Burdett of Stanton Harold in the County of Leicester Gentleman are held and firmly bound to Joseph Wright of the Town of Derby Painter in the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds of good & lawful money of Great Britain To be paid to the said Joseph Wright or his certain attorney Executors administrators or assigns for which payment to be well & faithfully made We bind ourselves and each of us by himself our & each of our Heirs Executors & administrators firmly by these presents Sealed with our seal Dated this Eleventh day of July in the third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith & so forth and in the year of our Lord One thousand and seven hundred and sixty-three The condition of this obligation is such That of the above Bounden Earl Ferrers & Peter Pery Burdett or either of them their or either of their Heirs Executors or Administrators do and shall and do well & truly pay or cause to be paid unto the above named Joseph Wright or his certain attorney Exors. Administrators or assigns the full sums of Eighty Pounds of Good and lawful Money of Great Britain with lawful interest for the same on the eleventh day of July which will be in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Then their obligation to be void or else to remain in full force
Sealed & delivered being first duly stamped in the presence of
W. WOTY
From the following extract of a letter written by Wright to his brother Richard, dated Rome, 13th Ap., 1774, we learn that Burdett’s behaviour caused Wright some anxiety as to his fulfilment of the bond:—
“I have just received a letter from Mr. Tate of Liverpool, where he tells me Mr. Burdett has sold up his goods and is off. Mrs. Burdett and her dear Miss Fredried are gone into lodgings, over head and ears in debt. I stand no chance of being paid at present—well, if ever; wou’d therefore have you write immediately to Lord Ferrers and tell him how things stand between me and Burdett, that he has not paid a farthing of principal or interest of the four score pounds his Lordship was bound for, wch I lent him in the year ’60 or ’61, that he takes no notice of the letters I have wrote him lately concerning the debt, must therefore look to his Lordship for it. When you write to his Lordship send the amount of principal and interest, and desire him to pay it as soon as he conveniently can. If it is not convenient for him to pay the whole, perhaps it will be prudent to take the interest only, as that will secure ye debt, and prolong the limited time for payment. Mr. Fallows will advise you, give my respects to that family. Tell his Lordship I would not apply to him at this time for ye money was I not much distressed for it, travelling is very expensive.”
On the back of the bond, in Wright’s handwriting, is the following:—
“August the 23, 1776.
“Memo. This day the Earl Ferrers accepted a bill drawn by me for Eighty Pounds, which when paid will be in full for the principal of this Bond.”
