Chalk study on paper: 'portrait study of the artist's father', by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), circa 1753-55. Mounted.

Exhibitions:

Title: Drawings by Joseph Wright of Derby
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 31/03/1990 to 22/04/1990
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: Joseph Wright of Derby: Life on Paper
Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Dates: from 23/05/2025 to 07/09/2025

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.
John Wright (Content)
Display Date: British, died 1767
Nationality: British
Biography: Attorney; father of the artist Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797).

Portrait study of the artist's father

Date: 1753-1755

Medium: Black and white chalks on blue laid paper.

Object Type:	drawing
Dimensions:	Support: 306 × 235 mm (12 1/16 × 9 1/4 in.)
Description:	Half-length portrait study of John Wright, the artist's father, in chalk. The drawing was purchased by Derby Museum in 1985, but it is almost certainly from the same period (and group?) as the recently discovered Wright 'Archive of Drawings' dating from Wright's period of training in London. It is recorded in the family memoirs that Wright executed various portraits, including portraits of his family, in the period 1753-6, between his first and second periods of training with Hudson. The finished oil portrait of his father and mother are in private collections. John Wright was an attorney (lawyer) who was known as 'Equity Wright' due to his nature for fair dealing.
Provenance:	With Mrs Romana Lock of Little Lypiatt Farm, Neston, Wiltshire, in 1979 (according to Joseph Wright photograph archive at Derby Museums); by descent to H Rowena Lock (?), a descendent of the artist, from whom purchased by Derby Museums in 1985.
Viewing Status:	Contact Us
Item Ref:	1985-128/1