The Life and Works of Joseph Wright, A.R.A., commonly called "Wright of Derby"

by William Bemrose

Subject.	Purchaser.	Price.
		£	s.	d.
Two views of Matlock		63	0	0
Two grottos by the sea side in the gulf of Salerno	Mr. Hodges	105	0	0
Vesuvius, for the Bp. Derry	crossed through	105	0	0
A view of Cromford Bridge, its companion of Arkwright’s mills	D. P. Coke	52	10	0
A large Vesuvius		200	0	0
A grotto in the gulf of Salernum, with the figure of Julia (companion to thatwith Banditti)	Mr. Cockshutt	105	0	0
Virgil’s Tomb	Mr. Cockshutt	63	0	0
A full-length of “Maria”[54]		84	0	0
A 3 qrs. picture of Matlock High Tor by moonlight	Mr. Boothby	31	10	0
Another of Matlock High Tor by moonlight	ditto	31	10	0
Part of the Colliseum—Sunshine		52	10	0
Ditto, its companion—Moonlight		52	10	0
Grotto in the Gulf of Salernum, moonlight, ½ length	Mr. Hardman, of Manchester	84	0	0
Ditto, its companion—Sunset	Ditto	52	10	0
A small picture of Carnarvon Castle, night		10	10	0
A large grotto in the gulf of Salernum, moon rising	Mr. Daulby	84	0	0
A small moonlight of a Lake	Ditto	16	16	0
The lake of Nemi, sunset, 3 qrs. Its companion, moonlight		63	0	0
Frames for ditto @ 2 gs. & ½ pr frame
A small oval of the Lake of Nemi, its companion, with frames	Dr. Beridge	23	2	0
One of the above size of Vesuvius		10	10	0
A small picture of the Girandolo	Mr. Daulby	84	0	0
A grotto with Banditti	Mr. Cockshutt	175	10	0
Sterne’s Captive[54]		105	0	0
A large Mount Vesuvius	Sold to the Empress (of Russia)	300	0	0
The Minstrel (Edwin)[55]	Mr. Milnes	84	0	0
Two Views of Matlock	Mr. Emes	63	0	0
A large picture of the Girandolo—companion to the Vesuvius which was sold to the Empress of Russia		200	0	0
Virgil’s Tomb		63	0	0
Neptune’s Grotto	Mr. Milnes	31	10	0

CANDLE-LIGHT PICTURES.

		£	s.	d.
a The Orrery	Ld. Ferrers	210	0	0
Boys with a bladder and its compn.	Ld. Exeter	105	0	0
b The air pump	Dr. Bates	200	0	0
c The Gladiator	Dr. Bates (on account)	40	0	0
d The Academy	Lord Melbourne	105	0	0
e The Hermit		105	0	0
f The Blacksmith’s Shop	Lord Melbourne	150	0	0
g Small Blacksmith’s Shop	E. Parker	42	0	0
An old woman knitting, her husband smoaking. Its companion, a girl at her toilet	Mr. Parker	31	10	0
h The Chymist		105	0	0
A Blacksmith’s shop	Mr. Alexander	157	10	0
i The young Nobleman in his ancester’s Tomb[56]	Mr. Milnes	105	0	0
4 Candle-light pictures at 30 guineas ea	Col. Pole	126	0	0
Mem: Recd. 25th Oct. 1772 of Col. Pole twenty guineas in part of payment for the picture of the boys with the bladder.
The Picture of the Iron Forge	Lord Palmerston	210	0	0
Mem: Not sent. Picture of a Captive King	Prince of Baaden	52	10	0
Picture of an iron forge viewed from without	Empress of Russia	136	0	0
Picture of Belshazzer at the feast when the hand appeared writing on the wall
Picture of an earth stopper	Lord ——	52	10	0
A sunset of the Lake of Nemi		52	10	0
Virgil’s Tomb by moonlight		63	0	0
A distant View of the High Tor at Matlock
The Cascade at Terni, 3 qr.	Given to my friend Tate	31	10	0
A small picture of the Lake of Nemi, sunset, and its companion, moonlight	Robt. Holden, Esqre	21	0	0
A large picture of Hero and Leander	crossed through	63	0	0
A large picture of Virgil’s Tomb		63	0	0
A large ditto of the cascade of Terni		73	0	0
A small picture of Virgil’s Tomb		21	0	0
A candle-light piece    pd	Dr. Bates
Galen          pd	Ditto
A girl reading a letter by candle-light		12	12	0
A small picture of a cottage on fire, seen through a groupe of trees—sketch	For my friend Holland	10	10	0
A small picture of a view at Valatii, very warm evening
A ferry over the river Tay at Dunkield, in Scotland, moonlight		36	15	0
A Village on fire	Mr. Lowe	36	15	0
A Lighthouse on fire in the Mediterranean, sketch	G. L. Philips	10	10	0
A small storm, sketch	Ditto	10	10	0
A sketch of Mount Vesuvius, evening	Ditto	10	10	0
An upright of a rocky scene wh a waterfall		10	10	0
A view in Italy—a warm sunset		10	10	0
A sketch of Vesuvius, morning		10	10	0
A view at Dunkeld, evening—companion to the moonlight wh Tate sold to	Mr. Wakefield	73	10	0
A small picture of a fire seen through a wood	Rev. Holden Shuttleworth	26	5	0
A near view of Mount Vesuvius		63	0	0
A view of the City of Florence—sun rising		52	10	0
A view in Scotland, half-length, moonlight	for my friend Tate	63	0	0
A storm—Antigonus pursued by a bear	Mr. Henry Philips	105	0	0
Two sketches of the Lakes of Albano and Nemi	Mr. Nixon	21	0	0
A small one on pannel of ye lake of Albano	L. Philips	10	10	0
A cottage on fire	Mr. Court, Bristol	42	0	0
A cottage on fire	Miss Linwood	15	15	0
Sketch of a Lighthouse in the Mediterranean		10	10	0
The Spinster wh Collin singing her a ballad (unfinished)
A Bridge seen thro’ a cavern on the coast of Sorento—moonlight		31	10	0
A View of the Ponti Salario, half-length		52	10	0
A View in the Alps in the Dutchy of Milan, half-length, noon	John Milnes, Esqre	63	0	0
The companion ditto, morning	John Milnes, Esqre	63	0	0
A half-length landscape of a cottage scene in Needwood Forest	Mr. Milnes	63	0	0
A view of the lake of Como, in Italy, warm sunset, on pannel
William and Margaret, framed		63	0	0
The cascade of Terni, framed		63	0	0
A large picture of the Dead Soldier		105	0	0
The old man and death		63	0	0
Lusignan in prison		52	10	0
A small prison		16	16	0
A sea shore seen thro’ an arch in ye rocks, sunset	Holland	12	12	0
Romeo & Juliet
The Storm in the Winter Tale		136	0	0
A cottage on fire		31	15	0
A view at the boat house near Matlock Town	Mr. Denby	21	0	0
A boy blowing a bladder		31	10	0
A girl looking thro’ a bladder		31	10	0
The Lake of Albano, sunset, ½ length	Mr. Milnes	63	0	0
Two girls, with a charcoal stick
Boy and girl, with a bladder
A small view at Almalfa		14	14	0
A sea shore seen through an arch in the rock	given to L. Philips
A small picture of Vesuvius		21	10	0
Its companion by the Lake of Geneva, moonlight	Ditto	21	10	0
A bit of the Ruins of the Colloseo, sunshine		21	0	0
A distant View of Vesuvius, from the shore of Posilipo	Mr. Walker	32	0	0
Ditto    ditto    ditto	Mr. Poploe Birch, Curzon Street, May Fair	42	0	0
A boy and girl, with a bladder	Mr. Hardman, Manchester	52	10	0
A girl blowing a charcoal stick	Mr. Daulby	42	0	0
A distant View of Vesuvius, from the Shore of Posilipo, bigger than ½ length	Mr. Edward Mundy	84	0	0
A View of Cromford
An internal View of a Prison		23	2	0
A View of Vesuvius, from the Shore of Posilipo	Mr. Gisborne	42	0	0
Cicero’s Villa, in the Bay of Naples	Mr. Smith	36	15	0
A large one of ditto—sun setting after a shower	Edward Mundy	84	0	0
A small picture of the View of Cromford Bridge, moonlight	Mr. Gisborne
A bit of the Ruins of the Coloseo—sunshine	Mr. Macklin	16	16	0
A View of Vesuvius from the Shore of Posilipo	Mr. Macklin	42	0	0
Moonlight on the Coast of Tuscany in the Mediterranean, Companion to the large picture of Cicero’s Villa	Mr. Jno. Milnes	63	0	0
A View of Cosimato, on pannel	Honble. A. Tompson	42	0	0
A Cottage, on fire	Mr. Hardman	36	15	0
A picture of the Alps, on the side next Italy, in the Duchy of Milan	Mr. Poploe Birch	36	15	0
A View of Warwick Castle, moonlight	Mr. Cutler	36	15	0
A distant View of Vesuvius, from the Shore of Posilipo, the eruption Principal	Mr. Arnold	31	10	0
The inside of a stable, near Tivoli	Jno. Henderson, Esqre.	21	0	0
A small picture of a Bridge, in Italy, sunset, on pannel		31	10	0
A large picture of Prospero in his cell, showing a visionary spectacle to Ferdinand & Miranda—12 ft. × 8 ft. 6	Pd.	315	0	0
A Circular picture, moonlight	Mr. Birch	21	0	0
A small picture of a distant View of Vesuvius, from ye Shore of Posilipo	Mr. Daulby	31	10	0
A sepulchral monument at old Capua—moonlight
Lake of Nemi, sun rising		26	5	0
A small picture of Chee Tor
A 3 qrs. of the Lake of Albano, with the Monte Jove, seen through the arch of an acqueduct
A small picture of Cosimato	Given to my friend Tate
A picture of a distant view of Vesuvius, from the Shore of Posilipo, painted on pannel	Sir Robt. Wilmot	42	0	0
Mecæna’s Villa, on ditto		42	0	0
Cicero’s Villa, on pannel		42	0	0
A Cottage on Fire	Mr. Culter	36	15	0
A Companion Moonlight	Mr. Bird, Liverpool	31	10	0
A View of Borrow Dale, sunset		31	10	0
A small picture of Neptune’s Grotto		14	14	0
A small picture of the Lake of Albano, sunset		26	5	0
View of the Boathouse, Matlock
A View of Vesuvius from the Shore of Posilipo	Edwd. Wilmot, Esqre	42	0	0
The close scene from Cozen’s	Sir Robt. Wilmot	31	10	0
The Sea Shore, moonlight	Mr. Harvey	31	10	0
A small moonlight, without the moon appearing	Mr. Boothby	26	5	0
A morning View of the Ponte Salona	Mr. Boothby	36	15	0
Its Companion, sunset of Tivoli
A View of Dovedale & its companion of Cosimato	Mr. Gisborne	36	15	0
A view of the Ponte Mola	Sir Brooke Boothby	31	10	0
Virgil’s Tomb, sun breaking thro’ a cloud. Small picture		31	10	0
A Sunset, a bold sea shore, 3 qrs., from Cozens	Mr. Boothby	31	10	0
Two ovals of Dove Dale, with frames	Mr. Boothby	42	0	0
A close scene, morning, from Cozens	B. Boothby	31	10	0
A View in Dove Dale, morning ¾ qrs.	E. Mundy, Esqre	31	10	0
Companion, in do., moonlight	Do.	31	10	0
A small oval of Dovedale	Mr. Parsons	14	14	0
An eruption of Vesuvius, from the Shore of Posilipo, on panel		42	0	0
Two small pictures of the island of Caprea
Hero & Leander—Storm	The Honble Thos. Fitzmaurice	105	0	0
Its companion, moonlight	Do.	105	0	0
Margaret & William		84	0	0
The Siege of Gibraltar	Mr. Jno. Milnes	420	0	0
An Indian Chief’s Widow		63	0	0
A Moonlight from Comus		84	0	0
A Wood Scene by moonlight, & frame	Mr. Thompson	31	10	0
The Corinthian Maid		105	0	0
Penelope unravelling her web, candle-light	Mr. Wedgwood	105	0	0
June 7, 1783. Two small landskips		21	0	0
A 3 qrs. picture of a Lake in Italy, moonlight		31	10	0
A small ditto of ditto by moonlight		21	10	0
Its companion, a Land Storm
A small moonlight on the coast of Naples
A 3qrs. of Neptune’s Grotto, with the Sybil’s Temple, &c.	Given to my friend Tate
A Moonlight, with an eruption of V., from the shore of Posilipo	Mr. Bacon	26	5	0
The Companion, sunset in the Bay of Salerno	Sold to my friend Holland	18	18	0
A view of Amalfi, sunset		14	14	0
A sunset from Cozens		31	10	0
Recd. Sep. ’85 of Mr. Gisborne for two large drawings of Moses		8	0	0
A boy with a candle		4	4	0
A boy blowing a bladder		4	4	0
A small picture of Borrowdale	T. Tate	12	12	0
A village on fire		63	0	0
The Convent of Cosimato. Mem. not paid	For Mrs. Hayley	26	5	0
Cottage on fire	Mr. Cunningham	21	0	0
Ditto	Mr. N. Philips	52	10	0
A small picture of Lodore		12	12	0
The Lake of Nemi—on panel
A smallish picture of Ullswater, sunset	Mr. Hardman	42	0	0
A Ditto of Windermere with Langdale Pikes	T. M. Tate	42	0	0
A Large picture of Ullswater		42	0	0
A smallish one of the little cascade at Sir Mic-la-Flemings	L. Philips	31	10	0
Picture of a bridge with the effect of a rainbow	Mr. N. Philips	52	10	0
Ditto      ditto
Keswick lake wh Skiddaw in the distance
A view upon Ullswater, morning		36	15	0
Ditto    Keswick Lake, sunset	Norris	36	15	0
A small picture of a view by the sea side, sun rising	Sold to my friend Tate	12	12	0
A cottage on fire	Norris	42	0	0
A View of the outlet of Whyburn Lake	For my friend Tate	42	0	0

PICTURES KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY WRIGHT BUT NOT ENTERED IN THE MS. LIST.

[57]Conversation piece. Three of Mr. Bradshaw’s children with a pet lamb
Port. of Mr. Woodville	full-length
„  Mrs. Woodville	do.
„  Dr. Wilson	half-length
„  Miss Macauley

A CATALOGUE OF PRINTS ENGRAVED AFTER PAINTINGS BY JOSEPH WRIGHT, OF DERBY.

	Subject.	Style.	Engraver.
1	Two Boys with a Bladder	Aquatint.	J. P. Burdett.
2	Master Bradshaw and two Miss Bradshaws with a Pet Lamb[58]	Mezzotint.	Valentine Green.
3	Count Miravan, a young nobleman of Syria, who having extravagantly lavished away his fortune, breaks open the tomb of his ancestors, expecting to find great treasure	Ditto.	Ditto.
4	A philosopher giving a Lecture on the Orrery.[59] The following names are copied from the margin of a print of the Orrery, written in the year 1768, and are believed to be the persons represented:—J. Wright, Mr. Burdett taking notes, young Cantrell, A. Winterman, Mr. G. Snowden, Mr. Denby as the philosopher	Ditto.	Ditto.
5	A Philosopher giving a Lecture on the Air Pump, in which are introduced portraits similar to above[60]	Ditto.	Ditto.
6	“The Gladiator.” Mr. Wright in this picture has introduced himself in profile, and he and the other two figures (Burdett and old John Wilson of the Devonshire Almshouses), are comparing the drawing he has made with the Statue	Ditto.	W. Pether.
7	Democritus found studying Anatomy	Ditto.	Ditto.
8	An Alchymist[59]	Ditto.	Ditto.
9	A Farrier’s Shop	Ditto.	Ditto.
10	Master Ashton (with Dog)	Ditto.	Ditto.
11	A Drawing Academy	Ditto.	Ditto.
12	A Drawing Academy, 8vo.	Outline.	Normand.
13	A Blacksmith’s Shop	Mezzotint	Richard Earlom.
14	An Iron Forge	Ditto.	Ditto.
15	John Harrison, Esq., Surgeon, Derby	Ditto.	J. R. Smith.
16	Edwin, the Minstrel (portrait of Thomas Haden, Esq.)	Ditto.	Ditto.
17	Ditto.	Etching.	F. Seymour Haden.
18	Three Children of Walter Synnott, Esq. (with Birdcage)	Mezzotint.	J. R. Smith.
19	William and Margaret, taken from an Old Ballad	Ditto.	Ditto.
20	The Indian Widow	Ditto.	Ditto.
21	The Lady in Milton’s Comus	Mezzotint.	J. R. Smith.
22	Dr. Darwin, with pen in right hand. (“An alteration in the Face and Wig from the Original, and for the worse”)	Ditto.	Ditto.
23	Ditto, with hands resting on a polished table[61]	Line.	J. T. Wedgwood.
24	“The Captive,” from Sterne’s Sentimental Journey	Dotted.	Ryder.
25	“The Captive,” from Sterne. Engraved for Mr. Milnes, of Wakefield: who destroyed the plate when twenty impressions had been taken off	Mezzotint.	J. R. Smith.
26	Distant View of Vesuvius, from shore of Posilipo	Line.	Wm. Byrne.
27	“The Dead Soldier”	Line.	J. Heath.
28	Ditto, same size as above, but a much inferior print	Mezzotint.	W. Dickinson.
29	“The Dead Soldier,” small	Line.	Bovinet.
30	Prospero entertaining Ferdinand and Miranda with Spectacle. From the “Tempest.” For Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery	Line & Stipple.	Thew.
31	The Storm, Antigonus pursued by the Bear. From the “Winter’s Tale.” For Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery	Line.	Middiman.
32	John Whitehurst, F.R.S., of Derby, “an elegant Engraving, and very like.” 8vo. in oval (another in oval on a pedestal)	Line.	J. Hall.
33	Sir Richard Arkwright, Kt.	Mezzotint.	J. R. Smith.
34	Sir Richard Arkwright, Kt., small (various)	Line.	A. R. Meyer & others.
35	Dr. Wilson. (Drawn by T. Lawrence)		J. & C. Sherwin.
36	Miss Kitty Dressing. Published February, 1781	Mezzotint.	J. Watson.
37	Portrait of Himself, wearing a hat	Ditto.	Ward.
38	Ditto, ditto	Line.	M. V. Sears.
39	Jedediah Strutt, Esq. (various)	Line & Stipple.	Meyer.
40	Rev. Thomas Seward	Line.	Cromer.
41	Fireworks from the Castle of St. Angelo, Rome, 8vo.	Line.	Radcliffe.
42	“Maria,” from Sterne’s “Sentimental Journey”	Mezzotint.	John Raphael Smith.
43	Thos. Day	Line & Stipple.	Meyer.
44	Moonlight View in Italy. Size of plate 21 × 16½	Aquatint.	Fras. Eginton, 1781.
45	The Twins (plate in this volume)	Etching.	F. Seymour Haden.
46	Miss Wrights. Two Girls with a Pet Lamb	Mezzotint.	S. Paul.

There are several other Minor Prints after him. Also two very fine Mezzo Prints, scarce, 2 ft. 6½ in. × 2 ft. 2 in. of a Boy and a Girl with a Bladder, and Two Girls with a Lighted Stick, with the name of W. Tate, pinxit (a friend of Wright’s), which is evidently an error, as it is known that Wright did paint these two pictures, and it is presumed that Mr. Tate had them engraved, hence the error.

A Portrait of the artist, engraved by Blake, was used as a frontispiece to J. Leigh Philips’ article on Wright, in the “Monthly Magazine,” of Sept. 1797. Blake engraved his plate from an etching by Wright himself, and of which only one copy is now known to exist.

Note.—The celebrated Engraving, “The Fishery,” engraved by Woollett, often ascribed as after “Wright, of Derby,” was painted by a Richard Wright, of Liverpool.