During the latter part of 1795 he became too ill to use his pencil, and when his first grandchild was born in 1796, he talked of introducing her in an unfinished portrait of her mother, in the place of a music book, but the picture was left unaltered, as were the portraits of his brother and his wife. He was so pleased with his brother’s portrait at the first sitting, that he said “he should be afraid of touching it again, lest the likeness should not be so good,” and so it remained.
GARDEN ENTRANCE TO HOUSE IN QUEEN STREET, DERBY.
In the month of May, 1797, he took to his bed; about this time his nose bled to such a degree as to prevent his lying down, and from the feeble state he was in, he had not strength to hold up his head for long together. A broad ribbon was therefore tied to each side of the head of the bed, upon which he rested his chin, and this simple contrivance afforded him great relief. His sufferings, from a complication of diseases, were very great, and he gradually became weaker. His daughter Harriet attended him night and day during this his last illness, and on the afternoon of the 29th of August, 1797, he expressed his pleasure at having those around him he had always loved. About two hours before he died, his friend, Mr. Tate, of Liverpool, having come to Derby, was anxious to see him, and was admitted. Wright seemed pleased to see his old friend, though he could scarcely articulate, but he drew with his fingers upon the sheet, as if expressive of the pleasure they formerly enjoyed together in following that pursuit. He was buried on September 1st, 1797, in St. Alkmund’s Church, and the following inscription was placed on a tablet[47] erected to his memory:—
In the Middle Isle, Opposite to this Pillar, are Deposited the
Remains of Joseph Wright, Esq.,
Painter.
He Died August 29th, 1797, in the 63rd Year of His Age.
His well earn’d Merit in his Works is shown,
Where Taste and Genius mark him for their own.