Wright, Joseph
Wright, Joseph (1734–97). Painter, known as Wright of Derby, where he was born and spent most of his life. He earned a living as a portrait painter, while he experimented with the effects of light and industrial and scientific subjects, reflecting the interests of his day and earning him the patronage of Wedgwood and Arkwright. Two of his best-known works come from this period, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766, Derby) and An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768, Tate). During the 1770s he travelled in Italy, less inspired by the great art than by an eruption of Vesuvius, which he painted eighteen times, and a Roman firework display. Although in 1775 Wright failed to replace Gainsborough in Bath, some of his best portraits come from the early 1780s, while in later life he concentrated more on landscape painting. His work is well represented in British galleries, especially at Derby.
June Cochrane
Wright, Joseph
Wright, Joseph (1734–97) English painter. He made a speciality of industrial and scientific subjects, most notably in An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768). Returning from time spent in Italy, Wright moved to Bath in 1775, hoping to emulate the success of Gainsborough. Disappointed in this, he settled in Derby, concentrating on poetic landscapes.
More From encyclopedia.com
Sofonisba Anguissola , Anguissola, Sofonisba (1532–1625)
Anguissola, Sofonisba (1532–1625)
Italian artist known for her portraits, who was court painter to Philip II of Spa… Joseph , Joseph
JOSEPH (Heb. יְהוֹסֵף, יוֹסֵף), son of *Jacob and Rachel. He was born in Paddan-Aram after his mother had been barren for seven years (Gen. 29… George Caleb Bingham , George Caleb Bingham
The American painter George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) depicted life in Missouri around the middle of the 19th century. His best-… John Smibert , Smibert, John
Smibert, John
1688
Edinburgh, Scotland
First portrait painter in colonial America
"Thy Fame, O Smibert, shall the Muse rehearse,/And si… Joseph Stella , Joseph Stella (1877-1946), Italian-born American futurist painter, is best known for his dynamic interpretations of Brooklyn Bridge at night, with it… Lavinia Fontana , Bolognese painter, mainly of portraits and holy scenes, who gave a successful example of Italian painting during the CounterReformation. Name variati…
About this article
Joseph Wright
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Joseph Wright