Joseph Wright of derby
Joseph Wright of Derby 1734-1797 Intro: In 1751 Wright began his formal training as an artist in the London studio of the fashionable portrait painter Thomas Hudson. Soon he returned to Derby to continue to paint portraits and it wasn’t until 1765 that Wright attempted to widen his reputation by exhibiting for the first time in London. ... This use of artificial light in Wright’s ‘candlelight’ paintings was not original. Caravaggio, who painted starkly lit paintings of Biblical scenes and martyrdoms influenced Dutch artists such as Rembrant who in turn influenced Wright. Wright adapted this use of light and shadow in his own work. Few British artists had explored of use this style of painting and what is original to Wright is the subject matter he chose to show in this distinctive manner. ... Human response: Joseph Wright’s two major paintings of the eighteenth century scientific activity, ‘A Philosopher lecturing on the Orrery’, 1766, and ‘An Experiment on a Bird with the Air Pump’, 1768, represent a complex synthesis of art, science and philosophy. ... Wright may have attended lectures that inspired both ‘A Philosopher lecturing on the Orrery’ and ‘An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. ... In the same manner Wright painted industrial themes such as ‘The Blacksmith’s shop.’ These truly original paintings with their dramatic and unusual lighting effects and new subject areas formed the base of Wright’s reputation. Wright was very in tune with his age. ... Wright leaves us uncertain of the outcome of the experiment.