Exhibitions:

Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734-1797: Bicentenary Exhibition
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 21/06/1997 to 28/09/1997
Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Life on Paper
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 23/05/2025 to 07/09/2025

Publications

Title: Joseph Wright of Derby 1734 - 1797
Sub-Title: An introduction to the work of Joseph Wright of Derby with a catalogue of drawings held by Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Published on the occasion of an exhibition commemorating the Bicentenary of the artist's death.
Published Place: Derby
Published Year: 1997

Related People

Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)
Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797
Nationality: British
Biography: Artist.
Anthony van Dyck (Content)
Display Date: Flemish, 1599 - 1641
Nationality: Flemish

Study of a Self-Portrait by Anthony van Dyck

Date: 1753-1754

Medium: Black and white chalk on blue paper.

Object Type:	Drawing
Dimensions:	Support: 387 × 292 mm (15 1/4 × 11 1/2 in.)
Description:	Appears to be a study after Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait of c.1640 (acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, London, in 2014). However, there are some subtle differences which suggest that Wright may have been working from Sir Peter Lely's copy of van Dyck's self-portrait, which was in Lely's posession until his death in 1680, and subsequently sold to Lord Newport, 1st Earl of Bradford (1619-1708) in 1682. It is possible that Lely's copy made its way into Hudson's collection, whereupon it was encuntered by Wright (more research needed). [LB: 2024] This study was previously believed to be a study by Kneller after a Van Dyck self-portrait. However, with the recent acquisition of the archive of early Wright portrait studies, it is now perhaps easier to consider this study to be an early Wright drawing after Van Dyck. It certainly fits with the other early Wright studies, indeed the artist may have used it as a source for his own early 'Self-portrait aged about 20' (plate 1). The oil self-portrait shows the young Wright looking over his shoulder at us, with the same cool, detached expression as Van Dyck. Perhaps this was Wright's homage to the earlier master, as was his choice of 'Van Dyck' costume, which also shows off his talent for drapery painting. In Wright's later 'Self-portrait c.1765' (cat.78) and 'Self-portrait in a Black Feathered Hat' (front cover) there is a similar pose, but with the more confident Wright breaking away from the Van Dyck prototype to turn his face more fully toward the spectator, and make greater play of his own expression. Portraits and Figure Studies. Drawing by Joseph Wright; 'Copy of Kneller engraving, after a Van Dyck self-portrait' drawn with black chalk or charcoal with white chalk heightening on blue paper, 1753-54; probably copy after C17th Dutch/Flemish portrait (probably Kneller); J Douglas Stewart (Prof. of Art History) at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, believes this to be Kneller and not Wright (1990); Jacob Simon, Curator of C18th Collection at the National Portrait Gallery also believes this to be nearer Kneller than Wright (1991); (1995) David Posnett of the Leger Gallery, London believes this is linked to the portfolio of early drawings done whilst in Hudson's Studio which were discovered in 1994 - so could possibly be by Wright after Kneller after Van Dyck; Jane Wallis believes it to be by Wright, after Kneller, after Van Dyck and the basis of Wright's 'Self-portrait aged 20'.
Provenance:	William Bemrose of Derby; by descent to his son Charles Lloyd Bemrose(?), by whom donated to Derby Museums in 1914.
Viewing Status:	Contact Us
Item Ref:	1914-517/15