Drawing of the interior of a glass house, with a domed furnace to the right, and low, vaulted ceiling. The room houses numerous items associated with glass-making, including glass pipes, a hand shovel, and a variety of troughs and trays. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), c.1770-1775. Pen and ink and grey wash on paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: Paintings by Joseph Wright, A.R.A., commonly called "Wright of Derby", together with some Original Drawings, and a Complete Collection of Prints after his Works
    Venue: Derby Corporation Art Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/1883 to 16/04/1883
  • Title: Pictures by Joseph Wright of Derby
    Venue: Graves Art Gallery
    Dates: from 17/07/1950 to 27/07/1950
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby
    Venue: Norwich Castle Museum
    Dates: from 03/01/1959 to 01/02/1959
  • 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 of Derby
    Venue: Tate Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/1990 to 16/04/1990
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734-1797: Bicentenary Exhibition
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 21/06/1997 to 28/09/1997
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery
    Dates: from 17/11/2007 to 24/02/2008
  • Title: The Art of Industry: From Joseph Wright to the 21st Century
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 24/03/2018 to 17/06/2018
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings Arranged by the Arts Council
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/2026 to

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
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light
    Sub-Title: Volume 1
    Volume: 1
    Published Place: London
    Copyright: Benedict Nicolson, 1968
    Published Year: 1968

Related People

  • Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Artist.

Study of the Interior of a Glass House (No.1)

Date: c. 1770-1775

Medium: Pen and ink and grey wash on paper.

Object Type:Drawing
Dimensions:Support: 362 × 521 mm (14 1/4 × 20 1/2 in.)
Description:One of two studies of the interior of a glass house (see also: DBYMU 1914-517/58). This glass-house interior brings to mind the later compositions of Wright's 'Romeo and Juliet , The Tomb Scene' and 'The Captive'. Perhaps the hours spent in working on these highly detailed studies of prison or tomb-like interiors with the light of the furnace casting deep shadows, so impressed themselves on Wright's mind that years later he was able to resurrect the spirit of them when he approached the subjects of captivity and death. [Wallis, J. 'Joseph Wright of Derby 1734 - 1797' (Derby, 1997), p.71.] Fraser suggests that this study, and the related drawing (DBYMU 1914-517/58), may have been made in James Keir's glass factory, established in 1769. [Fraser, D. 'Joseph Wright of Derby' (Derby, 1979), cat. 63.] However, Judy Egerton argues that they could have been made at Josiah Wedgewood's glass-houses at Etruria. Wedgewood had a keen interest in improving glass-making and discussed the subject at length with Keir, before publishing a paper for the Royal Society around 1783. As such, Egerton questions the dating of c.1770-2 that is given to these drawings and proposes c.1779-84 when Wright was working on 'The Corinthian Maid' and 'Penelope' for Wedgewood and making visits to Etruria. [see Egerton, J. (1990), p.96-7.] Elizabeth Barker posits a potential connection through Wright's Liverpool portrait sitters and notes the presence of numerous glass-houses in the city, incuding close to Wright's residence on Duke Street. Barker also notes that the dates for these drawings is uncertain and suggests c.1770-1773. [See Barker, E. (2007), p.182.] Interestingly, the presence of a number, handwritten in ink, on the related glass-house drawing (DBYMU 1914-517/58) matches the system used by Wright whilst in Italy. [LB: 2024] Nicolson noted that the glass-house drawings were probably made in preparation for a painting. He records that a picture described as 'The Glass-House, a Sketch', was listed in Wright's posthumous sale at Christie's in 1801 (no.24). [see Nicolson, B. 'Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light' (1968), p.121.]
Provenance:...; with William Bemrose of Derby in 1883; by descent to his son, Charles Lloyd Bemrose, by whom donated to Derby Museums in 1914.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1914-517/57
Browse Collection
Browse Collection