Drawing of male and female figures attending a child, 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 depicts a vignette from the extreme left of the sarcophagus, in which the infant Dionysus appears on a rock surrounded by male and female figures. To his left is a nymph who winds a fillet around his head. Below, a satyr fastens Dionysus's boot. Dionysus grasps a vine-stem held by Silenus, who appears to the lower right in this drawing, while a nymph extends her hand towards the child. On the verso is a drawing of a female figure, facing right, her left arm raised. Inscribed to upper left corner (handwritten in ink): '32' and to upper right (handwritten in ink): 'Capitol May 31st 7'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), c.1774-1775. Pen and ink and charcoal on paper. Displayed in a cream window mount.

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

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.
Dionysus (Content)

Recto: Study of Figures from a Sarcophagus Relief depicting the 'Education of the Infant Dionysus', after the Antique

Date: c. 1774-1775

Medium: Pen and ink and charcoal on paper.

Object Type:	Drawing
Dimensions:	Support: 187 × 540 mm (7 3/8 × 21 1/4 in.)
Description:	Figures from the Capitoline Sarcophagus 'Education of Dionysus' showing a group of five figures. Young Dionysus stands on a rock; a nymph to his right is winding a fillet round his head; a satyr below (top of his head only visible in Wright's drawing) is fastening the infant's right cothurnus: the infant Dionysus graps with his left hand a vine-stem held by Silenus (who is bottom right in this drawing) a nymph extends her hand towards the child. Greek, late 4th century BC. [see Wallis, J. 'Joseph Wright of Derby' (1997), p.91.] Wright made another study from this sarcophagus, which is located in the 'Room of the Faun' in the Capitoline Museums (see DBYMU 1914-517/41). [LB: 2024]
Inscriptions:	Inscribed to upper left corner (handwritten in ink): '32' and to upper right (handwritten in ink): 'Capitol May 31st 7'.
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:	1914-517/76A