Exhibitions:

  • Title: Acquisition in Focus - Wright of Derby: Mr & Mrs Coltman
    Venue: National Gallery
    Dates: from 05/02/1986 to 27/04/1986
  • Title: Loan Exhibition of Works by Joseph Wright A.R.A. of Derby
    Venue: Graves' Galleries
    Dates: from 06/06/2026 to 06/06/2026

Publications

  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Painter of Light
    Sub-Title: Volume 1
    Volume: 1
    Author: Benedict Nicolson
    Published Place: London
    Copyright: Benedict Nicolson, 1968
    Published Year: 1968
  • Title: Acquisition in Focus
    Sub-Title: Wright of Derby: Mr & Mrs Coltman
    Author: Allan Braham
    Published Place: National Gallery, London
    Published Year: 1986

Related People

  • Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Artist.

Study for “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump"

Date: c. 1768

Medium: Oil on canvas

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 785 × 935 × 80 mm (30 7/8 × 36 13/16 × 3 1/8 in.) Support: 762 × 635 mm (30 × 25 in.)
Description:This painting is a preparatory study for the larger, finished work, "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump" (National Gallery collection).
Provenance:Given to Thomas Coltman by the artist; thence by descent until sold to Derby Museums in 2022.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:2021-77B