Painting of three male figures, breaking into a lamp lit tomb, by night. The figure to the left, a nobleman called Miravan, is richly dressed, and turns away in horror as one of his companions points to a Persian inscription on the tomb slab. Through a doorway on the far left hand side of the canvas, two further male figures peer in. Inscribed in the lower right hand corner along the edge of a stone slab 'I. WRIGHT Pxt. / 1772'. Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797). Oil on canvas in gilded frame.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: 12th Exhibition of the Society of Artists
    Dates: from 15/04/1772 to 15/04/1772
  • 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: Angelika Kauffmann und ihre Zeitgenossen
    Venue: Vorarlberger Landesmuseum, Bregenz
    Dates: from 15/07/1968 to 15/10/1968
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734 - 1797
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from to
  • 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: Zwei Jahrhunderte Englische Malerei: Britische Kunst und Europa, 1680 - 1880
    Venue: Haus der Kunst München
    Dates: from 21/11/1979 to 27/01/1980
  • Title: Wright of Derby
    Venue: Tate Gallery
    Dates: from 15/04/1990 to 15/04/1990
  • 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: Wright of Derby
    Published Place: London
    Copyright: The Tate Gallery
    Published Year: 1990
  • 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.

An History, Miravan, a young Nobleman of Ingria, Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors in Search of Wealth

Date: 1772

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 1554 × 1315 × 98 mm (61 3/16 × 51 3/4 × 3 7/8 in.) Support: 1270 × 1016 mm (50 × 40 in.)
Description:This painting is based on the story of the young nobleman, Miravan, who breaks open the tomb of his ancestors encouraged by an inscription that suggests he will find treasure within. Instead he finds only bones and dust. Joseph Wright depicts the dramatic moment when Miravan realises that the ‘treasure’ was his ancestors’ uninterrupted peace, and turns away in shame. This dark tale comes from John Gilbert Cooper’s 'Letters Concerning Taste', a contemporary book of stories that discusses our senses and the feelings or actions that come as a result of what we see, hear, smell, taste or touch. In the case of Miravan, it is a warning against greed.
Inscriptions:'I. WRIGHT Pxt. / 1772' recto, lower right (along the edge of a broken stone slab).
Provenance:Listed in Wright's Account Book as 'The young Nobleman in his ancestors Tomb, Mr. Milnes, £105'; with John Milnes in 1772; ...; with E. Coulson, by whom offered for sale through Christie's, 7 May 1830, whereupn bought in at £9.9.0; offered for sale by Christie's, 19 March 1831, whereupon bought in; ...; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Nicholson; by whom presented to Derby Museums in 1937.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1937-657
Browse Collection
Browse Collection