Drawing of a landscape with a waterfall, identified as the 'falls of Tivoli', Rome. To the left is a bare tree. To the right, perched high above the waterfall, are buildings. Inscribed on verso, to top right corner (handwritten in ink): 'T G 1798'; verso, upper right (handwritten in pencil): 'By Mr Wright'; verso, lower centre (handwritten in pencil): 'The Hon'ble Mrs W E Griffiths'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), c.1786. Ink and watercolour washes over pencil on laid 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: Wright of Derby: The Bi-centenary Exhibition of Paintings by Joseph Wright
    Venue: Derby Corporation Art Gallery
    Dates: from 03/09/1934 to 18/11/1934
  • 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, 1734 - 1797
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from to
  • 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: British Art
    Venue: Royal Academy of Arts
    Dates: from 15/04/2026 to
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings Arranged by the Arts Council
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery
    Dates: from 15/04/2026 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.

The Falls of Tivoli, Rome

Date: c. 1786

Medium: Ink and watercolour washes over pencil on laid paper.

Object Type:Drawing
Dimensions:Support: 378 × 546 mm (14 7/8 × 21 1/2 in.)
Description:Nicolson suggests a date around 1786 for this watercolour and therefore that it was executed in Wright's native Derbyshire rather than in Italy. The composition, with its pictorial elements of classical buildings, framing tree, awesome rocks, tumbling waterfalls and tiny classical figures, point to a Cozen's influenced, created landscape rather than a direct topographical observation. [Wallis, J. 'Joseph Wright of Derby' (1997), p.108.] Inscriptions on this drawing, and others in the same group (DBYMU 1921-837), suggest that it was given to Gisborne by John Holland of Ford in 1798, the year after Wright died. Holland served as an executor to Wright's will and was responsible for dispersing the contents of his studio. [LB: 2024] Yoxall Lodge and its contents were sold at auction, conducted by Messrs Winterton & Sons of Lichfield, between 7 and 9 September 1921. This is recorded in an advertisement in the Tamworth Herald for Saturday 3 September, in which it mentions 'oil paintings by Bogdani and Joseph Wright, ARA.' The advertisement states that a catalogue was available, but I have not been able to locate this so far. It is assumed that Crosland purchased the portfolio of drawings at the auction and sold it to DM shortly afterwards. [LB: 2024]
Inscriptions:Inscribed on verso, to top right corner (handwritten in ink): 'T G 1798'; verso, upper right (handwritten in pencil): 'By Mr Wright'; verso, lower centre (handwritten in pencil): 'The Hon'ble Mrs W E Griffiths'.
Provenance:?With Wright's executor, John Holland of Ford Hall, Derbyshire, by whom given to Reverend Thomas Gisborne of Yoxall Lodge, Staffordshire, in 1798; with the Hon. Mrs Emily Wingfield Griffiths (previously the Hon. Mrs Emily Wingfield Gisborne) of Yoxall Lodge in 1883, by whom sold Winterton & Sons of Lichfield, 7-9 September 1921; purchased by E. Crossland of Derby, from whom purchased by Derby Museums in 1921.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1921-837/3
Browse Collection
Browse Collection