Drawing of a male and female figure, seated, and two children. Identified as a study of Zorobabel, from the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, after Michelangelo. The shading around the figure group forms a triangle. Top edge of the sheet is missing. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), after Michelangelo (1475-1564), c. 1774. Pen and ink and ink wash over pencil on paper. Presented in cream window mount.

Exhibitions:

Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734-1797: Bicentenary Exhibition
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 21/06/1997 to 28/09/1997

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

Related People

Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)
Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797
Nationality: British
Biography: Artist.
Michelangelo (After)
Display Date: Italian, 1475 - 1564
Nationality: Italian

Study of Zorobabel, after Michelangelo

Date: c. 1774

Medium: Pen, ink, and ink wash, over pencil on paper.

Object Type:	drawing
Dimensions:	Support: 273 × 489 mm (10 3/4 × 19 1/4 in.)
Description:	Wright, as many artists of his time, held the artists of the High Renaissance and especially Michelangelo in high regard. In Rome, he spent many hours studying and drawing the prophets, sibyls and other figures from the ceiling, lunettes and spandrels of the Sistine Chapel. Indeed, it was this activity which caused him to lay for so long on the cold chapel floor, that his family blamed for the onset of his ill-health. It would appear that in 1792, Wright and his friend and patron J.L. Philips investigated the possibility of engraving some of these drawings. In Wright's letter to Philips on the 24th September of that year he writes, 'This morning I have sent off by shawcross, a case addressed to you containing the book of drawings after Mic:Angelo' - nervously adding at the end... 'When you have rec'd the case, pray give me a line, for I shall wish to know Mic:Angelo is safe in your posession.' On November 29th he mentions the subject again, 'I am glad to hear plates are in readiness for Mic:angelo. I fear I shall never do my part, my hand is unsteady now for lines.' Nothing further is known of the enterprise, but the drawings appear to have returned to Wright, as the volume was included in the sale of Wright's possessions after his death. J. L. Philips, in his memoir of Wright (DPL) pointedly mentions 'his fine drawings after Micheal Angelo [sic] (which have scarcely been seen except by his particular friends) and the enthusiasm with which he always spoke of the sublime original evinced the estimation in which he held them and from thier extreme accuracy they may be considered as faithful delinations of the treasures of the Capella Sistina (Sitsine Chapel) and such as never yet have been exhibited to the public'. Visible reminders of Wright's study in the Sistine Chapel can be seen in his painting of 'The Captive' c.1775-77 (Derby Museums and Art Gallery), where Wright has used Michelangelo's celebrated 'Adam' for the pose of the condemned figure. Philip's memoir also mentions 'A fine cavern by moonlight in which he has introduced a large figure of Julia lamenting her banishment... has by many connoisseurs been considered as one of his best works and particularly by those who admire the gusto of Michael Angelo which is emminently displayed in that figure...'. This painting which was exhibited in Wright's one-man exhibtion in Robin's Rooms in Covent Garden in 1785 is now in a private collection. [see J. Wallis, 'Joseph Wright of Derby' (1997), pp.84-85.]
Provenance:	Possibly included in Wright's posthumous sale, Christie's, 1801, within a folio of drawings after Michelangelo; ...; with Andrew Kimpton, London, from whom purchased by Derby Museums in 1980.
Viewing Status:	Contact Us
Item Ref:	1980-717/3