Painting of a man, called an 'earth stopper', in a nocturnal landscape digging by the light of a lantern. He is accompnaied by a dog and horse. To his left is a river and behind him a large expanse of rock, above which the moon glows brightly. In the distance a small thatched cottage is visible, with a solitary light burning in a window. Inscribed recto, lower left: 'J Wright Pinxt /1773'. Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797). Oil on canvas in carved and gilded frame. Unglazed.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: 13th Exhibition of the Society of Artists
    Dates: from 16/04/1773 to 16/04/1773
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby
    Venue: Norwich Castle Museum
    Dates: from 03/01/1959 to 01/02/1959
  • Title: Gifts to the Galleries (NACF)
    Dates: from 16/04/1968 to
  • Title: Zwei Jahrhunderte Britischer Malerei
    Dates: from 16/04/1969 to 16/04/1969
  • Title: British Sporting Painting, 1650 - 1850
    Dates: from 16/04/1974 to 16/04/1975
  • 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: Wright of Derby
    Venue: Tate Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/1990 to 16/04/1990
  • Title: Extraordinary Portraits of Ordinary People: Paintings by Emma Tooth and Joseph Wright
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 03/07/2010 to 12/09/2010
  • Title: Museum Menagerie
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 11/02/2017 to 19/02/2017
  • Title: Wright of Derby: From the Shadows
    Venue: National Gallery
    Dates: from 07/11/2025 to 01/11/2026
  • Title: Le Paysage Anglais de Gainsborough à Turner
    Dates: from 16/04/2026 to 16/04/2026
  • Title: European Masters of the Eighteenth Century: Winter Exhibition
    Venue: Royal Academy of Arts
    Dates: from 16/04/2026 to 16/04/2026
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings Arranged by the Arts Council
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/2026 to

Publications

  • Title: Wright of Derby
    Published Place: London
    Copyright: The Tate Gallery
    Published Year: 1990
  • 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.

An Earth Stopper on the Banks of the Derwent

Date: 1773

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 1155 × 1400 × 80 mm (45 1/2 × 55 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.) Support: 965 × 1206 mm (38 × 47 1/2 in.)
Description:Believed to be Wright's second landscape, an 'earthstopper' works by the light of his lamp in the silvery, glistening moonlight. By 'stopping' the earths of the local foxes, he is ensuring that the hunt will have good sport in the morning. The man's ragged costume, and his patched spade provide realistic detail. The location is believed to be Church Rocks, Matlock, Derbyshire.; the earthstopper seals foxholes next to the River Derwent by moonlight
Inscriptions:'J Wright Pinxt /1773' lower left.
Provenance:Listed in Wright's Account Book as ‘Picture of an Earthstopper to Lord - £52.10.0’.; with Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke in 1773; by descent to Charles Philip Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke; offered at the sale of Charles Philip Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke at Christie’s, 7 August 1880 (lot 75, as ‘J. Wright… A river scene, with a man and dog’), transaction uncertain; ...; offered for sale at Christie’s, 17 March 1950 (lot 123), and purchased by ‘Scully’; ...; Benedict Nicolson, from whom purchased by Derby Museums in 1956. Note that this object has an incomplete provenance for the years 1933-1945.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1956-288
Browse Collection
Browse Collection