This is a letter written by Peter Perez Burdett (1934-1793), on the back/verso is a sketch, 'The Captive King' a working drawing by Joseph Wright (1734-1797) for a now lost painting 'Guy de Lusignan in Prison' (see DBYMU 1914-517/78A). The letter (handwritten in ink), is adressed to 'To Mr Joseph Wright at Derby, Derbyshire' also 'single sheet' and stamped 'Liverpool'. The inscription, top right hand corner, redas 'Dear Joe. The sketch of the barn is very incorrect in point of perspective but if the subject pleases you I will send you a projection exactly drawn the same observation upon the inside of the ship. You was once thinking of reversing the view of the ship, the main deck sd be...'. Inscribed on by Peter Perez Burdett (1934-1793), 1772, Ink 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 15/04/1883 to 15/04/1883
  • 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: 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: 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: 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.

  • Peter Perez Burdett (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1733 - 1793

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Cartographer; artist.

Verso: Letter written by Peter Perez Burdett to Joseph Wright of Derby, with a Study for 'The Captive King'

Date: c. 1772-1773

Medium: Pen and ink on laid paper.

Object Type:Letter
Dimensions:Support: 337 × 397 mm (13 1/4 × 15 5/8 in.)
Description:Drawing by Joseph Wright done on a letter, c.1772-73 (Nicolson); The letter on verso is in P. P. Burdett's handwriting (compare to study for Alchymist cat.89,90); 'To Mr Joseph Wright at Derby, Derbyshire (single sheet) [stamped 'LIVERPOOL']. Dear Joe. The sketch of the Barn is very incorrect in point of Perspective but if the subject pleases you I will send you a Projection exactly drawn the same observation upon the inside of the ship. You was once thinking of reversing the view of the ship, the main deck sd be.....'. [see Wallis, J. 'Joseph Wright of Derby' (1997), p.100]. It is possible that the drawing on the recto of this sheet was made by Burdett, rather than Wright. This may be the 'projection exactly drawn' which is mentioned in Burdett's letter. The handwriting on the drawing matches Burdett's, although the possibility that Burdett merely annotated a drawing by Wright cannot be ruled out. [LB: 2024] Nicolson suggests a connection with the content of the letter and the drawings of a sea battle in DM's collection (see DBYMU 1937-739/59 and DBYMU 1937-739/60A), although he concedes that the date of those drawings is uncertain and may also be connected to a later project, a 'sea engagement', which Wright proposed in a letter to Richard Wright in April 1776. [see Nicolson, B. 'Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light' (1968), p.120.] These drawings in fact relate to Wright's now lost painting of the floating batteries during the siege of Gibraltar in 1782, the finished painting of which Wright exhibited in 1785. [LB: 2024]
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:1914-517/78B
Browse Collection
Browse Collection