Wright painted two pictures for Alderman Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery, viz:—“Prospero in his cell, showing a visionary spectacle to Ferdinand & Miranda,” for which he received 300 guineas; and “The Storm in the ‘Winter’s Tale,’” for which 140 guineas was paid.
Wright addressed the following letter to the Alderman respecting the former picture:—
“Derby, 12th March, 1789.
“Sir,
“I should have sent you the dimensions of the picture by return of post, but it was till to-day so folded up it could not be measured with any accuracy. The exact size is 12ft. 0¼ in. by 8ft. 6in., to hang horizontally. It will be necessary to have a good straining frame, with the inner edge well rounded off, for if left square it always makes a mark in the picture. The reason I mention a fresh straining or wedging frame is, the one the picture is on has been cut in so many places to accommodate it to my painting-room; it is too weak to use again but for the purpose of painting on, if I should again have occasion for so large a one.
“The picture is now finished, unless a fresh eye discover anything in a few days to be corrected. I most heartily unite with you in wishing I may make a conspicuous figure in your exhibition.
“The picture by the time you will want it, will, I hope, be dry enough to roll upon a cylinder without damage, which I think the safest way of sending it, for it is much too large to go flat.
“I am, Sir,
“Your very humble Servt.
“JOSEPH WRIGHT.
“Mr. Alderman Boydell,
“Cheapside,
“London.”
Before Wright painted the Bear in the “Storm,” he wrote to Gilpin for his opinion, who sent him some sketches of Bears (one of which was introduced in the picture), with the following letter:—[45]
“Knightsbridge, Wednesday.
“Dear Sir,
“I send you the enclosed sketch as soon as possible, that I may have time to make a more finished one if it does not answer your purpose. If it does not, please let me know by return of post, and I will go a Bear hunting to the Tower, or somewhere or other, and sketch one from nature, if possible.... I think with you, that the pursuit is better than the horrid act of tearing.
“Your sincere Friend and Servant,
“S. GILPIN.”
Hayley, in his life of Romney, thus alludes to Wright and his engagement to paint for Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery:—“Nov. 4th 1786. Mr. Josiah Boydell entertained the little party of friends to the projected Gallery whom he has named in his preface to Shakspeare. I wrote nothing in its favour except a brief sketch, and a letter to engage my friend Wright, of Derby, to paint for the Gallery. My application to Wright was made at the earnest desire of the Alderman.”
It appears that when the time for payment came, Wright was dissatisfied with what Boydell offered to him for his picture of “Ferdinand and Miranda.” Whether Hayley, the poet, who appears to have been the go-between for the painter & Boydell, placed the matter before Wright in such a light that Boydell did not afterwards approve of, it is now impossible to say. Wright, however, wrote the following letter, which drew forth a characteristic reply from Boydell, who adopts the usual plan of “abusing the plaintiff.”