Before leaving England he wrote the following letter to his brother, Richard Wright:—
“1773.
“Dear Brother,
“By the waggon yesterday I sent you in a box four pillar Candlesticks called Tooth & Egg, to be cleaned as silver. They are what they seem to be, wch if I mistake not your temper, will be more pleasing to you than a refined outside, with a Base inside. They are such at least as best suit my Taste & pocket, & I sincerely hope you’ll receive them as a pledge of the Love I bear you. I shall be glad to hear you have got ’em safe. Thursday last I got on board the Jupiter all our Baggage, and a Case with the two pictures of the Alchymist and Captive King, for so my Friends advised me. The ship is sailed for Exeter, when she will arrive is as uncertain as the Winds that blow her. However, I hope the Capt. will soon send us a summons to embark. The winter approaches fast, and will, I fear, blast those Joys I promised myself at a more agreeable time of the year; however, I flatter myself matrimony has improved my Constitution, and I am better able to bear the rude winds than heretofore.
“Last week my Sister Nancy and this family went on board the ‘Jupiter,’ afterwards we were conducted by the Capt. to his house, where we dined with the rest of the passengers; a good thought this of the Capt. that we might not when we met on board wear the awkward faces of strangers. I shall be very happy to hear again from you ere we leave English ground, and if you write on Saturday night it will I think get here in time. Tell Mr. Greenwood the Drawings will be ready whenever he sends for them. I rec’d the Ruffles safe. Make my affectionate Compts. to Mrs. Fox & Mrs. Shelton; I dreamt she was got so well as to visit her Friends, would she was really so.
“I am, with Love to my Sister & affectionate Compts. where due, your Loving Brother,
“JO. WRIGHT.
“P.S.—I hope Dick’s[12] heart failed him not at his Departure. Tuesday night,
London.”“Mr. Hurleston’s Compts. to you & Sister.
| “P.S.—I hope Dick’s[12] heart failed him not at his Departure. |  | Tuesday night, London.” |
| “Mr. Hurleston’s Compts. to you & Sister. |
He evidently proved a bad sailor, for in his first letter home, written from Nice, he says, “The continual agitation of the ship soon rendered us very sick, and we not only lost sight of land, but of everything save our cabin, and the vessel into which we discharged the contents of our sickly stomachs.” He spent many months in Rome, studying especially the works of Michael Angelo, in the Capella Sestina of the Vatican. He here made faithful drawings, upon a larger scale than had generally been attempted, as he considered those subjects but ill-adapted for pocket-book sketches. “These Treasures of Art[13] have hitherto remained, in a great degree, lost to the world, having scarcely been seen except by Mr. Wright’s particular friends, to whom he showed them, when his imagination was warmed with a description of the divine originals.”[14] In Hayley’s Life of Romney we read, “In 1773, Romney went to Italy, where he acquainted himself with all the artists of his country, for I recollect his having repeatedly lamented that our amiable friend, Wright, the painter of Derby, had laid the foundation of those cruel nervous sufferings which afflicted his later years, by excess of application during his residence in Rome.”
His letters from Italy are very interesting, especially for his opinions on various celebrated Works of Art. A few extracts must suffice.
“ ... And on Sunday, 5th Dec. (1773), came into port at Nice amidst thousands of spectators of all ranks, who were placed on steps, their heads rising one above another had a very pleasing effect, like the crowded galleries of a theatre. It was on the ‘Jupiter’s’ account this large assembly were gathered together, she being the largest vessel that has sailed into this port, and I fancy I may add the best, she weathered without any material injury many storms.”
Rome, Feby 4th, 1774.
“As I know my Dear Brother & Sister will be better pleased to have a speedy account of our safe arrival here, from an hasty & irregular Letter, than from a more accurate one with delay, I embrace the first minute to tell you we got here last night in tolerable Spts considering the tedious Journey we had from Leghorn, wch is not 200 miles. We were advised as the best mode of travelling for those who speak not the language of the Country to engage with a man to take us to Rome for so much money & to accommodate us with every necessary on the Road. The Carriages have only two wheels, like our one horse chairs, drawn by the same pair of horses all the way, wch travel about as fast as our Stage waggons; we were obliged to rise by three in the morning to go betwixt 20 & 30 miles a day, to arrive at night at a poor house, with large cold rooms, & bad accommodation, very unpleasing to the English traveller. By the advice of Mr. Cesar, Mr. Heathcote’s friend at Pisa, I provided myself with a large Cloak, such as the Italians use; wch kept me tolerably comfortable by day & night, in wch I lay, for I durst not undress, the Beds being seldom lain in. Capt. Difting’s delay threw us into the Winter which has been attended with much cost & many inconveniences.”
“Rome, Feb. 12, 1774.
“My Dear Brother,
“I fully intended sending this Letter according to the first date, but was prevented by the visits of the English; and many other occurrences has since happened to prolong my silence beyond my wish, as I know you will be anxious to have a second Letter; tho’ I wrote to Mr. Coltman from Genoa, who wou’d, I hope, inform you I was well. I am (entre nous) surprized he shou’d think of quitting the Close till he has it brought into as good condition as he found it. If he leaves it so he must have gained much by it. If Mr. Brentnall has it, who, according to your account, I have no objection to, care should be taken that he does nothing to the disadvantage of my Close to benefit his own. I am sorry poor Dick has been so unfortunate at his first setting out, it was enough to give him an insurmountable prejudice, for the sea is terrible in stormy weather. I am sorry he is still likely to be expensive to us, only because I can’t now so well afford it as formerly. This Tour has & will cost me much more than I expected. My wife has been but indifferent, the storms by sea, and the violent shaking by land (for some parts of the road is very stony) have been too much for her. I called in a Doctor who said it was necessary she should loose blood, accordingly the next morning was appointed for the operation. The Dr. & his Surgeon came, never did I see such parade, they talked of Galen & Hypocrates & abundance of stuff, to conceal, I fear, their Ignorance. However, Mrs. Wright is better, they are against purging and have ordered her to drink a small liquor which they call Sherbett, to thin her blood. I have not wrote to Mr. Shackleford, I did not think it necessary, & his behaviour to me required it not I am sure, for whatever he may say of generosity & Gratitude, I never saw the least shadow of it. I was very fortunate in getting both yours & Nancy’s Letters; my wife has not heard from her friends, nor has Hurleston, nor Downman[15] who came with us received any Letters. I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as your business will permit. The air here is not so cold as in England, but it is very thin & searching. Nancy tells me she has heard the Empress of Russia[16] has taken ye picture of the Iron Forge, but does not like the Hermit. I hope by this time you have heard from Burdett & to some purpose. Make my affectionate Compts. to Coltmans, Hopes, Denby, &c., &c., &c.
“I am sorry to hear you have been indisposed, and that my Sister is no better. Give my love to her. Make my Compts. to Col. Heathcote, his Lady, &c., tell them I have seen Capt. Heathcote—he’s well. When I write again I hope we shall be settled, when you shall hear more particularly from me. It is now Carnival time at Rome, the Romans are all mad. Mr. Coke, our member’s son, has done me the honor of a visit. Mrs. Flint’s death alarmed me much, tho’ I thought before I left Derby she declined fast. Mrs. Clayton’s indisposition surprised me. What great alterations does a little time make in a small circle of acquaintance. Pray how does Mrs. Shelton, our good friend Mrs. Fox, I hope for their mutual happiness they both are well. Pray has Miss Fowler received the colours she gave me a commission for, my respects attend the family. Adieu. God be with all.
“I am with sincerity,
“Your loving Brother,
“J. WRIGHT.”