APPENDIX.
The following interesting Memoranda are taken from Wright’s MS. Book:—
“Bessy Fritch, at the Green Dragon, a pretty little girl of the delicate kind.”
“Nancy Nudal, in the Full Street, a pretty little girl.”
“Nancy Mellers, upon the Nun’s Green, against Haslam’s, a pretty middle-sized girl.”
“Jno. Fletcher, of Osmaston, an old bald-headed man.”
It is very probable that Fletcher sat to Wright for the six studies of an old man’s head which he painted, five of which were exhibited in the Derby Art Gallery in 1883.
“Paid for Lottery Ticket, No. 26,815, £13 19. 0, half of which is for More, £6 19. 6—due to More on this account, £1. 0. 6. The Lottery Ticket came up a prize of £20, for which I got £19. 14. 0, half of which is More’s, £9. 17. 0.”
“Paid for lottery ticket, No. 36,123. £15. 1. 0., half of which is for More, £7. 10. 6.”
SUBJECTS FOR NIGHT PIECES.
“A Blacksmith’s Shop.—Two men forming a bar of iron into a horse shoe, from whence the light must proceed. An idle fellow may stand by the anvil in a time-killing posture, his hands in his bosom, or yawning with his hands stretched upwards, a little twisting of the body. Horse shoes hanging upon ye walls, and other necessary things faintly seen, being remote from the light.
“Out of this room shall be seen another, in which a ffarrier may be shoeing a horse by the light of a candle. The horse must be sadled, and a traveller standing by. The servant may appear with hys horse in his hand, on wh. may be a portmanteau. This will be an indication of an accident having happen’d, and shew some reason for shoeing the horse by candle-light. The moon may appear, and illumine some part of the horses, if necessary.”
The size of a Kit-cat frame is 3ft. ¼″ × 2ft. 4″ „ a ¾ is 2ft. 6″ × 2ft. 1″ „ an half-length is 4ft. 2″ × 3ft. 4″ For a small whole length the frame should be cut 10 inches from ye bottom. A full-length straining frame, 7ft. 10″ × 4ft. 10″ A large full-length 8ft. — × 5ft. —
| The size of a | Kit-cat frame | is 3ft. ¼″ × 2ft. 4″ |
| „ | a ¾ | is 2ft. 6″ × 2ft. 1″ |
| „ | an half-length | is 4ft. 2″ × 3ft. 4″ |
| For a small whole length the frame should be cut 10 inchesfrom ye bottom. | ||
| A full-length straining frame, | 7ft. 10″ × 4ft. 10″ | |
| A large full-length | 8ft. — × 5ft. — | |
From the same MS. book we learn that on one occasion Wright cleaned and restored several paintings for Lord Harrington. The account runs thus:—
For Lord Harrington.
Went to Elvaston three times, one of wh. was there a whole day—
Cleaning a full-length picture 2. 2. 0 A new straining frame hung to the picture of King Charles 2. 6 Lining, cleaning, & repairing several damaged parts 1. 10. 0 Cleaning & repairing 2 Landskips 12. 0 Cleaning four small pictures, retouching them 10. 0 Cleaning do. two pictures of Venus & Cupid 1. 10. 0 Cleaning & retouching an historical picture of Paul Veronese. 10. 0 Four Large Historical Pictures clean’d, repaired & varnish 2. 2. 0