Drawing of a nude male figure, without a head or arms, identified as a study of the Roman sculpture known as the 'Colossal Statue of Apollo Citharoedus' (after the Greek original), which is in the Capitoline Museums in Rome. Inscribed on recto, to lower right (handwritten in ink): 'Capl. June 10th - 74' and top right (handwritten in ink): '89'. There are creases running horizontally across the centre of the sheet and towards the top. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), 1774. Pen and ink and grey wash over pencil on laid paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: An Exhibition to Commemorate the Centenary of Derby Museums and Art Gallery
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 21/04/1979 to 21/07/1979
  • Title: Wright in Italy. Joseph Wright of Derby's Visit Abroad, 1773-5
    Venue: Fraser, David
    Dates: from 08/08/1987 to 20/09/1987
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734-1797: Bicentenary Exhibition
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 21/06/1997 to 28/09/1997

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.

Study of the 'Colossal Statue of Apollo Citharoedus', after the Antique

Date: 10.6.1774

Medium: Pen and ink and grey wash over pencil on laid paper.

Object Type:Drawing
Dimensions:Support: 559 × 321 mm (22 × 12 5/8 in.)
Description:A study of 'Apollo as Citharist', after the Antique sculpture (c4th BC) of the headless figure in the Capitoline, Rome (before restoration of the lyre, right arm and left arm). [Wallis, J. 'Joseph Wright of Derby 1734 - 1797' (Derby, 1997), p.92.] According to the inventory of the Capitoline Museums, the sculpture is a Roman copy of a 4th century BC original. It represents Apollo with a lyre or cithara. For this reason, the figure may also be known by the title 'Apollo Citharoedus'. The figure is of a type known as Lyceus, or the 'Lycean Apollo', which is defined by the figure resting on a support (a tree trunk or tripod), with his right forearm touching the top of his head. It is called Lyceus after a lost Greek prototype that is said to have been on show in the Lyceum at Athens. Wright made a study of another Apollo figure of this type (see DBYMU 1914-517/54). [LB: 2024]
Inscriptions:Inscribed on recto, to lower right (handwritten in ink): 'Capl. June 10th - 74' and top right (handwritten in ink): '89'.
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:1914-517/21
Browse Collection
Browse Collection