Painting of an alchemist kneeling before a glowing glass flask from which a jet of gas is being released. To his left two young, male assistants are working with a bunsen burner. One of them has stopped to turn and point towards the alchemist. The scene is set within a dark interior, the architecture of which appears gothic. Beyond the alchemist, through an arched, leaded window, a full moon is visible. Inscribed recto, to right of centre: ‘J.W. /Pinxt. /1795’. Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797). Oil on canvas, in carved and gilded frame. Glazed.

Exhibitions:

  • Title: 11th Exhibition of the Society of Artists
    Venue: Society of Artists, Great Room, Spring Gardens
    Dates: from 26/04/1771 to 08/06/1771
  • 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 22/07/1883 to 22/07/1883
  • 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: Pictures by Joseph Wright of Derby
    Venue: Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield
    Dates: from 17/07/1950 to 27/07/1950
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby
    Venue: Norwich Castle Museum
    Dates: from 03/01/1959 to 01/02/1959
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
    Dates: from to
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby: Bath and Beyond
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from to
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734-1797: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings Arranged by the Arts Council
    Venue: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
    Dates: from to
  • Title: Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734 - 1797
    Venue: Derby Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from to
  • Title: Wright of Derby
    Venue: Tate Gallery, London
    Dates: from to
  • Title: Reflections
    Venue: Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield
    Dates: from 01/04/1972 to 07/05/1972
  • Title: Gothick
    Venue: Brighton Art Gallery
    Dates: from 06/05/1975 to 17/08/1975
  • Title: A Trick of Light: Artificial Lighting Effects in Painting Before and After Edison
    Venue: Science Museum, London
    Dates: from 02/09/1975 to 23/09/1975
  • 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: The Nature of Painting - Light (Arts Council)
    Dates: from 19/10/1983 to 13/11/1983
  • Title: The Nature of Painting - Light (Arts Council)
    Dates: from 19/11/1983 to 18/12/1983
  • Title: The Nature of Painting - Light
    Venue: Bolton Museum and Art Gallery
    Dates: from 04/02/1984 to 03/03/1984
  • 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: Simon Starling (The Grand Tour, Season Two)
    Venue: Nottingham Contemporary
    Dates: from 19/03/2016 to 26/06/2016
  • Title: Harry Potter: A History of Magic
    Venue: British Library, London
    Dates: from 20/10/2017 to 28/02/2018
  • Title: It's Alive! Frankenstein at 200
    Venue: The Morgan Library, New York
    Dates: from 12/10/2018 to 27/01/2019
  • Title: Wright of Derby: From the Shadows
    Venue: National Gallery, London
    Dates: from 07/11/2025 to 01/11/2026
  • Title: British Institution for Promoting the Fine Arts in the United Kingdom
    Venue: British Institution, London
    Dates: from 22/07/2026 to 22/07/2026
  • Title: Loan Exhibition of Works by Joseph Wright A.R.A. of Derby
    Venue: Graves' Galleries, London
    Dates: from 22/07/2026 to 22/07/2026

Publications

  • Title: Wright of Derby
    Author: Judy Egerton
    Published Place: London
    Copyright: The Tate Gallery
    Published Year: 1990
  • 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: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) and Natural Philosophy: A New Perspective on his Artistic Intentions
    Volume: XVIII
    Author: William L. Pressly
    Journal: The British Art Journal
    Published Place: London
    Published Year: 2017

Related People

  • Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Artist.

The Alchymist in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and Prays for the Successful Conclusion of his Operation, as was the Custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers

Date: 1771, reworked and dated 1795

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 1455 × 1185 × 580 mm (57 5/16 × 46 5/8 × 22 13/16 in.) Support: 1270 × 1016 mm (50 × 40 in.)
Inscriptions:‘J.W. / Pinxt. / 1795’ recto, to right of centre.
Provenance:Listed in Wright’s Account Book as ‘The Chymist £105’; unsold by 1773, so taken by Wright to Italy, unsold there and brought back in 1775; remained in his possession; offered in Wright’s posthumous sale, Christie’s 6 May 1801 (no.62, as ‘The Alchymist in his Elaboratory with Assistants… companion to lot 63 ‘The Hermit’’), bt in; sold Wright sale, Mr. Shaw, Derby, 11 October 1810, purchased by Mr. Tate of Liverpool, for Colonel Thomas Wilson of Wootton Lodge, Staffordshire; offered for sale at Christie’s, 5 February 1881 (lot 665), bt McLean; ...; with Francis Beresford Wright in 1883, from whom purchased by subscription for Derby Art Gallery in 1883.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1883-152
Browse Collection
Browse Collection