His visit to Italy, in 1774–5, where he saw a grand Eruption of Vesuvius, merely turned his natural predilection for strange effects of light into a new channel. This eruption may be said to have been the father of his numerous landscapes of volcanoes and conflagrations. Of the eruption alone he painted about eighteen pictures, each of which was treated in a manner differing more or less from the rest. In his striking pictures of sun and moonlight, which also began about this time, we see the same love for unusual and powerful effects of light.

From a letter in the possession of Lord Lansdowne, the owner of “The Gladiator,” which, by the courtesy of his lordship, I am able to transcribe, we learn that this picture was not sold until the year 1772. In Wright’s MS. book the price named is £40. and Dr. Bates is entered as the purchaser. This price must be an error, or only a part payment, as will be seen from the letter, which is from Wright to Dr. Bates, and was sold with the picture. There is little doubt that this was the picture mentioned in the letter, although it is not referred to by name.

“Derby, 12th September, 1772.

“Dear Sir,

“Last night I received a letter from our friend Burdett, whereby I understood you consent to give me £130 for the picture. I must let it go at that price, as I am under a necessity of immediately raising £1,200 on a mortgage, and have only £1,000 by me, it was on this account I offered it to you at 125 guineas. I shall say no more on the subject, only desire for my interest, you will never mention what you gave for it, as it might much injure me in the future sale of my pictures, and when I send you a receipt for the money I shall acknowledge a greater sum.

“I wish it may be convenient for you to remit me the money immediately, as Michaelmas is the time fixed for the payment of the money, and though I have lent more money than I now want, upon the person’s bare note, and without interest, I know not a man that would lend me a hundred pounds without high interest and good security. You see how I am circumstanced, and have no doubt but you’ll immediately assist me with the money if you can. I think myself much obliged to you for offering me the assistance any of your pictures can give me.

“I am, with compliments to Mrs. Bates, though not known,

“Dear sir,

“Your affectionate friend,

“JO. WRIGHT.”

Upon examining the following list of his pictures exhibited at the Rooms of the Society of Artists, it will be noticed that for ten years, from 1765 to 1775, only one landscape is mentioned; but on his return from Italy, in 1776, he exhibited his first picture of Vesuvius, and from this date he evidently paid much more attention to landscape, and almost ceased to paint candle-light effects, which, up to that date, had, with portraiture, almost entirely engrossed his pencil.

Whilst in Italy he made many landscape sketches from nature, which supplied him on his return to England with the greater part of the material for the landscapes he produced from 1775 to within a few years of his death, although these were interspersed with scenes from Scotland, Derbyshire, and the Lake District.

Wright was at an early period elected a member of the Society of Artists, to whose exhibitions in the Spring Gardens he contributed many years, as will be seen from the following lists extracted from the catalogues. It is to be regretted that at this date it was not the custom to mention in catalogues the names of the persons whose portraits were exhibited, and in consequence of the lapse of time, it is now often impossible to identify them.

Pictures Exhibited by Joseph Wright at the Exhibitions of the Society of Artists of Great Britain.

1765.
No.163.Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator by Candle-light.
„164.A Conversation Piece.
1766.
„195.A Philosopher giving that lecture on the Orrery, in whicha lamp is put in the place of the sun.
„196.A Portrait of a Lady, whole length.
„197.Head of a Gentleman.
1767.
„188.Portrait of a Gentleman, whole length.
„189.A Small Candle-light.
„190.Ditto, its Companion.
1768.
„193.An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump.
„194.Two Candle-lights.
1769.
„196.A Philosopher by Candle-light.
„197.An Academy by Candle-light.
„198.A Lady.
„199.A Conversation.
1770.
„154.Portrait of a Gentleman, Painted by an Artificial Light.
„155.A Conversation of Girls.
„303.Child with a Dog.
1771.
„200.A Lady and Child, whole length.
„201.A Blacksmith’s Shop.
„202.A Small Ditto, viewed from without.
„203.A Small Conversation.
„204.Portrait of an Officer.
„205.A Young Lady Undressing by Candle-light.
„206.An Old Woman Knitting by Candle-light.
„209. The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone,discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successfulconclusion of his operation, as was the custom of theAncient Chymical Astrologers.
1772.
„369.A Portrait of an Officer, small, whole length.
„370.A Portrait of an Officer, small, whole length.
„371.A Landscape.
„372.A Blacksmith’s Shop.
„373.An Iron Forge.
„417.A Moonlight.
1773.
„370.A Captive King.
„371.An Iron Forge, viewed from without.
„372.An Earth Stopper on the Banks of the Derwent.
1774.
„321.The Old Man and Death.
1775.
„223.A Smith’s Forge, altered from his first design.
1776.
„147.An Eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
„148.The Annual Girandola, at the Castle of St. Angelo, at Rome.
1791.
„291.Antigonus in the Storm. (From the “Winter’s Tale.”)
„220.Romeo[9] and Juliet. The Tomb Scene. “Noise again!then I’ll be brief.”
N.B.—The above Pictures were exhibited last year in theAcademy; but having been placed in an unfortunate position,owing (as Mr. Wright supposes) to their having arrived toolate in London, and have since received alterations, he isdesirous they should again meet the public eye.
„221.Inside an Italian Stable.
„222.Part of the Colosseum.
„223.Moonlight, View on the Lake Albano, Italy, Monte Jora in the distance.
Total, 43 Pictures.

Pictures Exhibited by Joseph Wright at the Exhibition of the Free Society of Artists.

1783.
No.4.Moonlight.
„89.Boy Blowing a Bladder.
Total, 2 Pictures.