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The Tramp

Date: c. 1774

Medium: Pen and ink and sepia wash on paper.

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Drawing of a tree, leaning to the left, within a wooded landscape. Inscribed on verso (handwritten in pencil): 'Wright of Derby (5)'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), c.1786-1790. Pen and ink over pencil on laid paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Study of Trees

Date: c.1786-1790

Medium: Pen and ink over pencil with charcoal on laid paper.

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Mezzotint-engraving and etching after Joseph Wright (1734-1797). 'Miravan' The scene from 'An History, Miravan, a young Nobleman of Ingria, Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors in Search of Wealth' The subject of this dramatic painting was drawn from John Gilbert Cooper’s Letters Concerning Taste (1771), a contemporary book of stories which related to the judgement of beauty and utility in the arts. Wright transcribed the story of Miravan into his account book, using it as a point of reference for the completion of his picture: “There dwelt a young Nobleman…named Miravan, who was blessed with health, wit, and beauty…which for some years he enjoy’d with the most uninterrupted satisfaction, till one day walking among the tombs of his ancestors, he observ’d upon one of them the following inscription almost erased by time; ‘in this tomb is a greater treasure than Croesus ever possessed.’ Inflamed…with the very lust of avarice, he caused the pond’rous and marble jaws of his ancestor’s sepulchre to be opened…he was struck speechless with disappointment to behold nothing but a heap of bones…with this inscription: Here would have dwelt eternal repose a treasure which Croesus never possessed which thou hast driven hence being excited by an insatiable love of gold.” Bottom left hand corner 'Jos Wright Pinxit', bottom centre 'Published Decem 18th 1772 by J Boydell, Cheapside', bottom right hand corner 'V Green fecit'; condition : very good - some surface scratches and fade mark along lower edge; sheet height 51.5mm sheet width 62mm, plate height 50.7mm plate width 36mm, image height 46.2mm image width 35.7mm; 'Miravan at the Tomb of his Ancestors'. Made by Valentine Green (1739-1813). Mezzotint-engraving and etching. Paper

Miravan

Date: 1772

Medium: Mezzotint-engraving and etching.

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Vesuvius

Date: c. 1774-1775

Medium: Black chalk over pencil on laid paper.

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Engraving after Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797); 'The Hermit'. Painting of a man in a nocturnal landscape, studying a human skeleton by the light of an oil lamp. He sits within a cave, wearing a brown robe tied at the waist, surrounded by emblems of mortality, including animal bones and an hour glass. To his right, two young men, wearing cockle shells in their hats, move towards him with cautious steps. Inscribed: bottom right 'Jos. Wright Pinx' bottom left 'W. Pether Fecit' middle centre 'Published May 14th 1770 & Sold by W. Pether in G. Russel St, Bloomsbury' scratched in pencil. Made by William Pether (1738-1821). Mezzontint and etching. Paper.

The Hermit

Date: 1770

Medium: Mezzotint engraving and etching.

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Drawing of a landscape showing a view towards Mount Vesuvius and the surrounding caldera, and a nearby town. Drawn by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), c. 1774 - 1775. Pen and ink and ink washes over pencil on white laid paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Vesuvius

Date: c. 1774-1775

Medium: Pen and ink and ink washes over pencil on white laid paper.

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Drawing of Mount Vesuvius and surrounding landscape. The foreground is filled with trees and shrubs. The ground rises beyond this to a small settlement, behind which is the volcano's smoking cone. Inscribed on the verso, to top left (handwritten in ink): 'Twenty four'; to top right (handwritten in ink): 'No. 23'; to centre (handwritten in ink): 'Joseph Wright'; to centre, beneath signature (handwritten in pencil): 'His own writing'. There is a fold line running vertically through the centre of the sheet. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), c. 1774-1775. Ink wash over pencil and conte crayon on blue paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Vesuvius

Date: c. 1774-1775

Medium: Ink wash over pencil and conte crayon on blue paper.

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Drawing of architectural ruins clothed in foliage, with a view through an archway to a landscape beyond. Inscribed on recto, top right (handwritten in ink): '50'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), c.1774-1775, grey wash over pencil on paper.

Roman Ruins

Date: c. 1774-1775

Medium: Grey ink wash over pencil on paper.

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Portrait of a man in monochrome, identified as Joseph Wright of Derby; turned to the right, with left hand tucked inside waistcoat, facing forwards. He wears his hair tied back, but a little loose at the temples. He wears a coat and waistcoat and his shirt is closed by a close-fitting neck stock. Inscription to verso, on stetcher 'Joseph Wright of Derby / copied by William Pether'. Made by William Pether (1738 - 1821), c.1767-70(?), pastel on paper laid on canvas, in black painted frame. Glazed.

Joseph Wright

Date: 1767-1770

Medium: Pastels on buff coloured paper, laid on canvas.

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