Again, in writing to Mr. Philips, in 1794, he says:—“Your picture of Vesuvius and one at Dunkeld which would have been at Manchester before now, had not the frames of the pictures which I exhibited been materially damaged at the Academy. Mr. Milbourne has orders to put them into good condition and send them to you when done.”
This is alone sufficient to prove his retirement had some deeper ground than a disinclination to present a diploma picture.
“Derby, 11th June, 1790.
“To John Leigh Philips,
“My good friend, for so I have reason to call you, is ever prompt and eager to redress as much as may be my wrongs. I have lately sustained a real injury from the most illiberal behaviour of the Royal Academicians, with which my dear friend Tate has made you acquainted. ’Tis not the first instance of their base conduct. I have been driven from their Exhibition before, and must again withdraw myself—unless I could brook such abuse—for it is better not to exhibit at all than under such disadvantageous circumstances. To put my pictures in places they could not be seen, and then to decry them is rank villany, and what an artist should sink under the reflection of. I wish the Town had held together longer; I should have been very glad to have their behaviour publickly known, while it is recent, that if I should exhibit no more with them, the true reason may be known. I was prophet enough to foretell what would happen to me. I think I communicated it to Tate, indeed it required no divination, to know the miscreants and their dependency on the Alderman,[37] was to know the result of all. I am sorry the business is protracted from time to time. The Editors stand much in awe of this great man. I heard the other day from a Relation of the Alderman’s, that the editor of the Morning Herald had a violent quarrel with him for rejecting the performance of a relation of his as unworthy of his gallery. There is an odd paragraph in the Leicester papers. ‘The Prince of pick-pockets has given instruction to his attorney to prosecute a printer for a libel on his character.’ Can you guess who it is? I wonder Vasari has not yet come out with his statement of facts, sure he has not plugged with gold the touch hole of his great guns. At present I can but thank you for your very friendly services to me; I feel the weight of such solid obligations.
“My best remembrances to Mrs. Philips, my Friend Tate, Mrs. Hardman, &c., &c., and believe me very sincerely and with much esteem your Friend,
“JOSH WRIGHT.
“P.S.—Tate says you have so high an opinion of my two pictures that if I will join you, Heath shall be applied to, to engrave them. I hardly know how to reply, unless I knew something of the expense, and the likelihood of saving ourselves in such an engagement. Independent of these considerations I should like it of all things, as it would be pushing the matter with the Alderman still further. Perhaps you will indulge me with a line soon.”
“15th April, 1791.
“To John Leigh Philips,
“My Dear Sir,
“I have just received a letter from the Secty of the incorporated Society of Artists, assuring me they will be happy to receive any pictures from me, but they wish to avoid inserting anything in the catalogue, that may appear like altercation with the R Academy, and they conceive it sufficient to mention in the catalogue, that the two pictures from Shakespeare were exhibited last year at Somerset house, timely notice not having been sent of the Exhibition of this Society, but the subjects having received alterations, Mr. Wright wishes them to be exhibited here. However in this respect the Committee will be wholly guided by me. I think nothing had better be said than the above. My wish was to have had something mentioned in the catalogue expressive of the slight & injustice shewn to my pictures last year by the R Academy, by the obscure places they put them in, which I hope will be an apology to the publick for their 2nd appearance. Pray suggest something proper if you and my friend Tate think some observation of the kind should be made.
“Heath & Martin will have an opportunity of seeing these pictures; whether they will approve of them is uncertain, nor do I know whether the two pictures of Romeo & Juliet and the Storm are to be marked in the Catalogue to be sold. It would gratify my pride and resentment to the Alderman to have ’em engraved by Heath—as the Companion of the Storm would become more universal. The Society wish to have any single picture besides the two from Shakespeare, which would preclude any unpleasant suggestions that might be started to the prejudice of the Society. Pray give me your thoughts by return of post, as I must write as soon as possible.
“I am still unwell—no work going on. Adieu my good friend, and believe me yours very sincerely,
“JOSH WRIGHT.
“St Ellens,
“15 Apl, 1791.”
The note in the catalogue of 1791, the last exhibition of the Society, thus reads:—“N.B.—The above pictures were exhibited last year in the Royal Academy; but having been placed in an unfortunate situation, owing (as Mr. Wright supposes) to their having arrived too late in London, and having since received alterations, he is desirous they should again meet the public eye.”
“St Ellens, Apl 23rd 1791.
“To John Leigh Philips,
“My Dear Sir,
“As I have a very high opinion of your judgment, integrity, and friendship for me, I have the greatest satisfaction in asking your advice & regulating my conduct by it. I have implicitly followed your instructions relative to the Incorporated Society, who I believe would do anything in reason to accommodate me. They approve of the N.B., as it now stands, it entirely removes every ground of cavil between them and the R.A., yet for my own sake, they wish me to reconsider it, as in their opinion it sets me in perhaps too pointed a view of opposition to the R.A., but I don’t see that. They have repeatedly used me ill, and the public ought to know it, or my changing the place of exhibition might be deemed whimsicalness. The terms it is couched in are delicate, and the supposition of delay, being ye cause of the pictures being disadvantageously placed, is a very sufficient apology for the Academy, better indeed than my heart is inclined to make them.
“I consider the Exhibition as my mart, and I have sent three small pictures. I wish they may make good head against the Royalists this year, against another I hope to be better prepared. I like the Spring Gardens Room very much. I am glad you like the addition to your Grotto, in my opinion ’tis much improved by it; there is a better balance of light and shadow. I would advise you to get it painted on the backside with a greyish colour which will preserve it much. I mention grey because the paint works thro’ like pin heads in any of the porus parts. That tint will be the least seen and where they are seen, our dear friend Tate will touch ’em with the point of a pencil. The Moonlight is 30gs.
“I thank you very kindly for a quantity of most excellent rags, you were resolved I should never want again. I do not understand when you say, “if we can see ye 2d No. of Boydell we shall all be satisfied.” Pray is the 1st out. I am glad you are recovered.
“JOS WRIGHT.”