SUBJECTS FOR NIGHT PIECES.

“A Blacksmith’s Shop.—Two men forming a bar of iron into a horse shoe, from whence the light must proceed. An idle fellow may stand by the anvil in a time-killing posture, his hands in his bosom, or yawning with his hands stretched upwards, a little twisting of the body. Horse shoes hanging upon ye walls, and other necessary things faintly seen, being remote from the light.

“Out of this room shall be seen another, in which a ffarrier may be shoeing a horse by the light of a candle. The horse must be sadled, and a traveller standing by. The servant may appear with hys horse in his hand, on wh. may be a portmanteau. This will be an indication of an accident having happen’d, and shew some reason for shoeing the horse by candle-light. The moon may appear, and illumine some part of the horses, if necessary.”

The size of a Kit-cat frame is 3ft. ¼″ × 2ft. 4″
„ a ¾ is 2ft. 6″ × 2ft. 1″
„ an half-length is 4ft. 2″ × 3ft. 4″
For a small whole length the frame should be cut 10 inches from ye bottom.
A full-length straining frame, 7ft. 10″ × 4ft. 10″
A large full-length 8ft. — × 5ft. —

The size of aKit-cat frame is 3ft. ¼″ × 2ft. 4″
„a ¾is 2ft. 6″ × 2ft. 1″
„an half-lengthis 4ft. 2″ × 3ft. 4″
For a small whole length the frame should be cut 10 inchesfrom ye bottom.
A full-length straining frame,7ft. 10″ × 4ft. 10″
A large full-length8ft. — × 5ft. —

From the same MS. book we learn that on one occasion Wright cleaned and restored several paintings for Lord Harrington. The account runs thus:—

For Lord Harrington.

Went to Elvaston three times, one of wh. was there a whole day—

Cleaning a full-length picture 2. 2. 0
A new straining frame hung to the picture of King Charles 2. 6
Lining, cleaning, & repairing several damaged parts 1. 10. 0
Cleaning & repairing 2 Landskips 12. 0
Cleaning four small pictures, retouching them 10. 0
Cleaning do. two pictures of Venus & Cupid 1. 10. 0
Cleaning & retouching an historical picture of Paul Veronese. 10. 0
Four Large Historical Pictures clean’d, repaired & varnish 2. 2. 0

Cleaning a full-length picture2.2.0
A new straining frame hung to the picture of King Charles2.6
Lining, cleaning, & repairing several damaged parts1.10.0
Cleaning & repairing 2 Landskips12.0
Cleaning four small pictures, retouching them 10.0
Cleaning do. two pictures of Venus & Cupid1.10.0
Cleaning & retouching an historical picture of Paul Veronese.10.0
Four Large Historical Pictures clean’d, repaired & varnish2.2.0

Other interesting items are:—

Chairman2/6
Shoe buckles10d.
Paid for letter10½d.
"„7½d.
„4½d.

The following prices, etc., are copied from a priced catalogue of the sale of the effects of John Leigh Philips, Esq., sold at Manchester in October, 1814, and are useful in identifying sketches, etc., not named in the List of Pictures:—

41Wright, of Derby.—Four studies, taken on the spot in Italy£1100
42
(Mr. Meynell.)		„Three: A study for the figure in the picture of the Dead Ass, a fragment in Indian ink, and a ditto of Walls, in colours fine£270
44„Six drawings from Antiques, made on the spot, in outline pen£3136
45„Two: A Ruin and a Landscape, with figures in Indian ink£200
46„Three: Interior of a Cabin, Hero & Leander, & Dog£110
47„Two: Vesuvius and the Interior of a Church£120
48„Two: View of a Ruin in Rome, Indian ink, and a ditto in colours; capital£300
49„Four: Three Studies by Wright, and a Landscape with figures by Wilson£3100
50
(Mr. Hardman.)		„Two Cavern Scenes on the Shores of Italy. Fine and highly-finished drawings made on the spot, and are the originals from which the two celebrated pictures in the collection of the late Wm. Hardman, Esq., were painted£10100
51„One: Portrait of himself, in a fancy dress; capital£440
Wright’s Drawings, £32 17 6.