Soon after Wright’s return from Italy, an Irish Bishop[22] bespoke a large picture of Vesuvius, and on passing through Derby called at his painting-rooms to look at it. The mountain and burning lava were nearly finished, but the foreground being only laid in, there wanted the bold dark parts to give effect to the brilliant lights. On seeing it, the Bishop literally addressed him in the language used by Hayley in the following lines, and in consequence Wright would not allow him to have the picture, nor would he ever sell it. It hung in his dining-room during his life-time, and is still in the possession of a member of his family. In the MS. list of Wright’s paintings it is entered “Vesuvius for Bp. Derry, £105,” but the indignant artist has dashed his pen through the entry.
THE BISHOP AND THE PAINTER.
A TRUE STORY.
A Bishop who wished to be rank’d with a few
Who are cried up by fashion as men of vertu,
Most wisely conjectur’d ’twould aid his desire
To purchase from Wright a picture of fire;
But his spirit more mean than his gusto was nice,