Drawing of the interior of a tomb through an arch. To the left is a broken door, hanging lamp, and bench; to the right a large sarcophagus. Inscribed on recto, on the floor of the tomb (handwritten in pencil): 'The Seat of Ye figures' and recto, across bottom (handwritten in ink): 'Perhaps the Niech[sic] wch. contains the Sarcophagus wd. be better removed a little more to the right, wch. wd. give a greater breadth of illuminated wall..'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), 1774. Pencil and pen and ink on paper. Displayed in 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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 for 'Romeo and Juliet'

Date: c.1787-1791

Medium: Pencil and pen and ink on paper.

Object Type:Drawing
Dimensions:Support: 184 × 222 mm (7 1/4 × 8 3/4 in.)
Description:The lower of the two inscriptions reads like a piece of advice, or perhaps a reflective observation. Wright appealed to his friend William Hayley for his 'ideas on the Subject of Romeo & Juliet in Capulat's[sic] Tomb...' in a letter written on 12 September 1789 (DBYMU 1994-74, letter pasted into volume). It remains unclear whether he accompanied this with a sketch although advice, if given, may have been in person. Both the pencil and ink inscriptions on this sheet would appear to be in Wright's own hand, rather than Hayley's. [LB: 2023]
Inscriptions:Inscribed on recto, on the floor of the tomb (handwritten in pencil): 'The Seat of Ye figures' and recto, across bottom (handwritten in ink): 'Perhaps the Niech[sic] wch. contains the Sarcophagus wd. be better removed a little more to the right, wch. wd. give a greater breadth of illuminated wall..'
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:1914-517/77
Browse Collection
Browse Collection