Portrait of a man, called Jedidiah Strutt; half-length, seated with his body facing forwards, his head turned slightly to the left. He wears a plain, olive-coloured suit comprising matching knee-breeches, waiscoat, and coat. His right elbow is propped up on a closed book which sits on a highly polished dark wood table beside him, and rests his head on his hand in a contemplative manner. Behind him, to the left, is a dark red drape. Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797). Oil on canvas in gilded frame.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: Art Treasures
    Venue: Art Treasures Palace, Manchester
    Dates: from 05/05/1857 to 17/10/1857
  • Title: National Portrait Exhibition
    Venue: South Kensington Museum
    Dates: from 13/04/1868 to
  • Title: Midland Counties Exhibition
    Venue: Derby Drill Hall
    Dates: from 01/05/1870 to 01/05/1870
  • 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 16/04/1883 to 16/04/1883
  • 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: 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: Wright of Derby
    Venue: Tate Gallery
    Dates: from 16/04/1990 to 16/04/1990
  • Title: Faces In The Crowd: Joseph Wright And Friends In Georgian Derbyshire
    Venue: Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 05/03/2011 to 30/05/2011
  • Title: Loan Exhibition of Works by Joseph Wright A.R.A. of Derby
    Venue: Graves' Galleries
    Dates: from 16/04/2026 to 16/04/2026

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

  • Jedidiah Strutt (Content)

    Display Date: British, 1726 - 1797

    Nationality: British

  • Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Artist.

Jedidiah Strutt

Date: c. 1790

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 1647 × 1390 × 140 mm (64 13/16 × 54 3/4 × 5 1/2 in.) Support: 1270 × 1016 mm (50 × 40 in.)
Description:This portrait of industrialist Jedidiah Strutt demonstrates Joseph Wright’s ability to capture aspects of the character and individuality of his sitters. Strutt started out as a small farmer and wheelwright, but here he is painted as the businessman he became. Wright manages to convey Strutt’s religious and reserved nature through his simple clothing and contemplative pose. Jedidiah was known for his Unitarianism, building a chapel in Belper for worship and to provide a Sunday school. His family, many of whom had roles in what became a family business, were known for their charitable work in education and social welfare. Industry flourished in the Derwent Valley as Britain’s empire grew. Cotton spinning mills, including those belonging to the Strutt family, relied upon raw cotton imported from overseas, including from plantations in the Americas worked by enslaved Africans.
Provenance:Listed in Wright's Account Book as 'An half length of Mr. Strutt £25.4.0'; by descent to Ronald Strutt, 4th Baron Belper, by whose trustees sold to Agnew's in 1975, and from whom purchased by Derby Museums in 1976.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1976-434
Browse Collection
Browse Collection