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| CHAPTER I. | |
| The Family of Wright | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Early Life.—Mechanical Pursuits.—Aspirations after Art.—Loveof Music and Society.—Studies under Hudson.—Returns toDerby.—Again Studies under Hudson | [6] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Candle-Light Subjects.—“The Gladiator” Picture.—Commences toPaint Landscapes in 1772.—List of Pictures Exhibited at the Societyof Artists’ Rooms.—List of Pictures Exhibited at the RoyalAcademy.—Wright Holds an Exhibition in 1785, of his Own Works, inLondon.—His Generosity in Giving Pictures to his Friends.—Is aPioneer in Water-Colour Painting | [11] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Wright Marries and Visits Italy.—Letters.—Extracts fromDiary.—Birth of his Daughter, Anna Romana, in Rome.—Influence ofthe Old Masters | [27] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| The Bishop and the Painter.—Settles at Bath.—Letter to hisSister “Nancy.”—Prices of Portraits.—Wright’s Method of Making uphis Palette.—Returns to Derby.—Lodges with the Eleys.—Removes toSt. Helen’s.—Wilson and Wright.—Anecdotes | [43] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Wright’s Secession from the Royal Academy.—J. L. Philips.—TheMessrs. Redgrave’s Criticisms on the Secession and upon Wright’sWorks.—Hayley’s Poem.—Anthony Pasquin.—Letters from Wright toJ. L. Philips.—The “Air-Pump” Picture | [57] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Mention of some Important Pictures.—The Custom HouseAuthorities and “The Captive” Picture.—The “Dead Soldier” and Heaththe Engraver.—“Destruction of the Floating Batteries offGibraltar.”—“The Orrery.”—Earl Ferrers as aPatron.—Mortimer.—Peter Pindar.—Dr. Darwin.—AnnaSeward.—Wedgwood.—Bentley.—“The Alchymist” Picture.—Hayley thePoet.—Thos. A. Hayley the Sculptor | [69] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Correspondence of Wright with Mr. Daulby and Mr. J. L.Philips.—The Shakespeare Gallery Pictures.—Dispute About Prices | [85] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Death of Mrs. Wright.—He Removes to Queen Street, Derby.—HisLast Illness and Death.—Mr. J. Leigh Philips on the Character ofWright.—Sale of his Pictures in London and Derby.—Letters fromJ. Holland and Rev. Thos. Gisborne | [102] |
| APPENDIX. | [116] |
LIST OF PLATES.
| Portrait of Joseph Wright. Reproduced by Messrs. A. & W. Dawson’s Positive Etching process | [Frontispiece] |
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| TO FACE PAGE | |
| “The Twins.” Ann Haden, afterwards Mrs. Boot; and Sarah Haden, afterwards Mrs. James Oakes, of the Riddings, Derbyshire.—Etched by Mr. F. Seymour Haden | [12] |
| “Maria.”—From Sterne’s “Sentimental Journey.” Reproduced by Messrs. A. & W. Dawson’s Positive Etching process | [26] |
| Conversation Piece. Three Children of Richard Arkwright, Elizabeth (afterwards married to Francis Hurt), John, and Joseph. Reproduced by Messrs. A. & W. Dawson’s Positive Etching process | [42] |
| Joseph and Harriet, Two of Wright’s Children | [56] |
| “Edwin.” Mr. Thomas Haden, of Derby, sat for this Picture.—From Dr. Beattie’s “Minstrel.” Etched by Mr. F. Seymour Haden | [68] |
| Conversation Piece. Three Children, Richard, Robert, and Peter (Sons of Richard Arkwright). Reproduced by Messrs. A. & W. Dawson’s Positive Etching process | [84] |
CHAPTER I.
The Family of Wright.
Joseph Wright, like his famous contemporaries, Reynolds and Wilson, belonged to the great middle-class, as may be seen from the pedigree appended to this chapter. Wright could reckon amongst his progenitors men of some consideration in the three professions of Law, Physic, and Divinity. The family appears to have settled at Seighford, Co. Stafford, in 1662, and from thence to have migrated, about the year 1673, to Longford in Derbyshire. The earliest ancestor of Wright whom I have been able to trace is the great-grandfather of the painter, and I am indebted to the Rev. J. Charles Cox, LL.D., the present Rector of Enville, Stourbridge, for the following interesting information respecting him.