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Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English painter active mainly in his native town of Derby. He is known for his paintings of candle-lit subjects, his use of chiaroscuro, and his depictions of scenes lit by moonlight. Wright's paintings often focused on the scientific and technological advances of the Industrial Revolution, straying from the mythological or historical scenes popular in Baroque and Neoclassical art. His choice of subject matter, including his paintings of industry and scientific experiments, reflected a departure from the traditional themes of Neoclassicism.
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What You'll Learn
Choice of subject matter
Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English painter active mainly in his native town of Derby. He was one of the most original, versatile, and accomplished British artists of the 18th century. Wright's choice of subject matter was a radical departure from the mythological or historical scenes popular in Baroque art. He is known for his paintings of candlelit subjects and his use of chiaroscuro, which emphasises the contrast between light and dark.
Wright's interest in science and technology, as well as his friendship with leading scientific minds in Derby, influenced his choice of subject matter. He was the first artist to depict industry and the scientific experiments of his age. One of his most famous paintings, "A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery" (ca. 1766), depicts a red-gowned philosopher presenting a lecture on astronomy using a clockwork model of the solar system. Scientific lectures and demonstrations were popular forms of public entertainment when this painting was exhibited in 1766, and Wright's dramatic use of light captured the public imagination.
Another of Wright's notable paintings, "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump" (1768), also demonstrates his interest in science. This painting depicts a travelling experimenter drawing air out of a glass jar with a white cockatoo. Wright's choice of subject matter in this work is particularly significant, as it seems to presage the persecution of scientists in the backlash to the French Revolution of 1789.
In addition to his scientific subjects, Wright also painted landscapes and portraits. He varied his work in portraiture by producing subjects with strong chiaroscuro under artificial light. During his time in Liverpool from 1768 to 1771, he painted portraits of prominent citizens and their families. Wright also found inspiration in his travels, particularly his visits to Italy, where he was impressed by the eruption of Vesuvius and the fireworks display at Castel S. Angelo in Rome. He painted several pictures of these subjects upon his return to England in 1775.
Wright's artwork has been described as capturing the many scientific and technological advances of the Industrial Revolution. He was also influenced by the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that emphasised the use of reason and science to understand the world. Wright's paintings of the birth of science out of alchemy, often based on the meetings of the Lunar Society, a group of scientists and industrialists, are a significant record of the struggle of science against religious values during the Age of Enlightenment.
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Use of artificial light
Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English painter who was active mainly in his native town of Derby. He was one of the most original, versatile, and accomplished British artists of the 18th century. Wright is particularly renowned for his use of chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasises the contrast between light and dark, and for his paintings of candlelit subjects.
Wright's fascination with unusual lighting effects is evident in his varied work in portraiture, which often depicted scenes lit by artificial light sources such as candles or moonlight. This distinctive style set him apart from other artists of his time and established his reputation as a "painter of light". His paintings showcasing the birth of science out of alchemy, frequently inspired by the meetings of the Lunar Society, a group of scientists and industrialists, are a testament to his interest in capturing the scientific advancements of the Enlightenment.
One of Wright's most notable works, "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" (1768), exemplifies his innovative use of artificial light. The painting depicts a travelling experimenter performing an experiment in front of a well-to-do family, with the dramatic lighting enhancing the sense of awe and curiosity surrounding the scientific endeavour.
Another painting, "A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery" (c. 1766), also utilises artificial light to great effect. In this work, a philosopher is shown presenting a lecture on astronomy using an orrery, a clockwork model of the solar system. The use of a lamp in place of the sun creates a captivating contrast of light and shadow, highlighting the philosopher's figure and adding drama to the scene.
Wright's mastery in capturing artificial light can also be seen in his landscape paintings. His works often featured moonlit scenes, blending the realism of industrial machinery with the romanticism of its application in industry and science. This unique approach to subject matter and lighting set him apart from his contemporaries and firmly established his place in the history of art.
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Industrial subjects
Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He is regarded as a pioneer in the artistic treatment of industrial subjects and is acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution". Wright's work captured the scientific and technological advances of the time, marking a departure from the mythological or historical scenes popular in Baroque art.
Wright's notable patrons included Josiah Wedgwood, who is credited with the industrialization of pottery manufacture, and Richard Arkwright, regarded as the creator of the factory system in the cotton industry. Through his close connections with pioneering industrialists, scientists, and philosophers, Wright had access to the scientific experiments and innovations of the age, which he depicted in his paintings.
Wright's paintings often featured industrial and scientific subjects, such as his work "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump" (1768), which portrayed a travelling experimenter conducting an experiment in a well-to-do family's home. This choice of subject matter reflected Wright's interest in capturing the advancements of his time and the struggle between science and religious values during the Age of Enlightenment.
Another notable work by Wright is "A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery" (c. 1766), which depicts a mechanical model of the solar system. This painting conveys a sense of awe at mankind's achievements, a sentiment previously reserved for religious subjects. Wright's use of artificial lighting, such as candlelit subjects and strong chiaroscuro effects, further enhanced the dramatic impact of his industrial and scientific themes.
Overall, Joseph Wright's paintings of industrial subjects broke new ground by focusing on the technological and scientific advancements of the Industrial Revolution. His work departed from traditional neoclassical subjects, embracing the spirit of innovation and change that characterised the age in which he lived.
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Scientific experiments
Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He is known for his paintings that depicted scientific observations and experiments, marking a departure from the artistic conventions of his time.
Wright's paintings often showcased the scientific advances of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. One of his notable works is "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump", completed in 1768. The painting depicts a natural philosopher, the forerunner of modern scientists, recreating one of Robert Boyle's air pump experiments. The scene is lit by a single candle, adding to the drama of the experiment. The philosopher is observed by a varied group of onlookers, with the children appearing horrified while the older individuals seem intrigued by the scientific discovery. The choice of a rare cockatiel, with its grey plumage showing effectively in the candlelit setting, further adds to the drama of the scene.
Another painting by Wright, "A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery", or "The Orrery", also caused a stir. It replaced the Classical subject at the centre with a scientific one, depicting a lecturer demonstrating an orrery—a mechanical model of the Solar System. The candlelit setting, with shadows cast by the lamp representing the sun, was integral to the display of eclipses. This work, along with "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump", marked a break from tradition, as the artistic depiction of wonder and awe was typically reserved for religious events.
Wright's paintings of scientific experiments and observations were not widely imitated during his time, possibly due to his provincial status and choice of subjects. However, they are now recognised as significant records of the struggle between science and religious values during the Enlightenment.
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Landscape painting
Joseph Wright, also known as Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He was born in 1734 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, and died in 1797 in the same city. Wright was a pioneer in the artistic treatment of industrial subjects and is considered the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution. He is also known for his use of chiaroscuro, emphasising the contrast of light and dark, and for his paintings of candle-lit subjects.
Wright's landscapes, which became increasingly important towards the end of his career, often depicted scenes of scientific experiments and technological advancements. This choice of subject matter was a radical departure from the mythological or historical scenes popular in Baroque art. His paintings conveyed a sense of awe at mankind's achievements, a feeling previously reserved only for religious iconography.
One of Wright's most notable landscape paintings is "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump", completed in 1768. This painting depicts a travelling experimenter drawing air out of a glass jar with a white cockatoo. Wright's choice of subject matter was unprecedented at the time, and his dramatic use of light captured the public imagination. The painting also reflects the widespread British curiosity in other cultures during the period following the War of Independence between Britain and its North American colonies.
Another example of Wright's landscape work is his series of paintings of the eruption of Vesuvius and the fireworks display held annually at the Castel S. Angelo in Rome. These paintings demonstrate Wright's interest in capturing the beauty and power of nature, as well as his fascination with unusual lighting effects.
In conclusion, Joseph Wright's landscape paintings strayed from neoclassicism by embracing industrial subjects, scientific experiments, and technological advancements as sources of inspiration. His use of dramatic lighting and his ability to capture the spirit of the Industrial Revolution set him apart from the mythological and historical scenes typically associated with neoclassicism.
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Frequently asked questions
Joseph Wright's paintings strayed from neoclassicism by focusing on scientific experiments and industrial subjects, rather than historical or mythological scenes. His paintings often depicted the scientific advances of the time, such as "An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump" and "The Orrery", which showed a philosopher giving a lecture on astronomy.
Joseph Wright was inspired by his friendship with leading scientists of the time, such as Erasmus Darwin, and his participation in the Lunar Society, a group of scientists and industrialists. He was also influenced by the Dutch followers of Caravaggio and his experiences in Liverpool, where he learned about the discovery of phosphorus.
Joseph Wright was known as a "painter of light" and often used dramatic lighting effects in his paintings, such as candlelight or moonlight, to create a sense of romance and awe surrounding industrial and scientific subjects.
Joseph Wright's paintings reflected the Enlightenment by capturing the struggle between science and religious values. His paintings of scientific experiments and the birth of science out of alchemy challenged religious iconography and depicted the awe previously reserved for religious subjects.
