Drawing of male and female figures, identified as a study of a relief on an ancient Greek sarcophagus depicting the 'Education of the Infant Dionysus', in the Capitoline Museums, Rome. The drawing combines two separate parts of the long relief: on the left, taken from the centre of the relief, Silenus (facing left) raises a strap to hit the young Dionysus, whose right shoulder he holds. Behind, a satyr with an animal skin over shoulder, raises a bowl. On the right, taken from the extreme right end of the sarcophagus, a female figure is crouching and holding out a bowl of fruit as if to tempt the infant Dionysus (omitted by Wright), whilst a standing female figure behind her reaches her right arm out. Inscribed on recto, to lower centre (handwritten in ink): 'Capitol / May 31st - 74' and to upper left (handwritten in ink): '24'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), 1774. Pen and ink on light green washed paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Exhibitions:

Title: Drawings by Joseph Wright of Derby
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 31/03/1990 to 22/04/1990
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 Figures from a Sarcophagus Relief depicting the 'Education of the Infant Dionysus', after the Antique

Date: 31.5.1774

Medium: Pen and ink on light green washed paper.

Object Type:	Drawing
Dimensions:	Support: 365 × 537 mm (14 3/8 × 21 1/8 in.)
Description:	This drawing depicts some figures from the Capitoline Sarcophagus 'Education of Dionysus', and combines two separate parts of the long relief. Wright's drawing falls into two parts. LEFT Silenus (facing left) raises a strap to hit the young Dionysus, whose right shoulder he holds. Behind, a satyr with an animal skin over shoulder, raises a bowl. This group comes straight from the centre left of sarcophagus and only differs from original in cutting off a little of the bottom of the relief (the full wine skin on the ground mainly) RIGHT TWO FIGURES - come from the extreme right end of the sarcophagus: two nymphs are crouching and holding out a bowl of fruit as if to tempt the infant Dionysus (omitted by Wright). Sarcophagus looks Greek, late C4 B C (see 'A Catalogue of the Ancient Sculptures preserved in the Municipal Collections of Rome' by : Rome: British School, ed H Stuart Jones, Oxford 1912, pl.24) [JW: 1997] Wright made another study from this sarcophagus, which is located in the 'Room of the Faun' in the Capitoline Museums (see DBYMU 1914-517/76A). [LB: 2024]
Inscriptions:	Inscribed on recto, to lower centre (handwritten in ink): 'Capitol / May 31st - 74' and to upper left (handwritten in ink): '24'.
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:	1914-517/41