Joseph Wright of Derby: The First Painter of the Industrial Revolution
Joseph Wright of Derby stands out as the inaugural artist to encapsulate the essence of the Industrial Revolution, mirroring the Enlightenment's pivot towards scientific exploration. Residing predominantly in Derby, he is set apart from other artists. The late 18th century witnessed Britain’s transformation from agrarian to urban landscapes due to the Industrial Revolution. In his 1768 work, An Experiment with a Bird in an Air Pump, Wright portrays a philosopher demonstrating Robert Boyle's air pump, eliciting diverse reactions from observers. He was linked with the Lunar Society, which included figures like Erasmus Darwin and John Whitehurst. His 1766 painting, A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery, embodies Enlightenment principles, while The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus (1771) depicts Henning Brand's discovery of phosphorus.
Key facts
- Joseph Wright of Derby is considered the first painter to capture the spirit of the Industrial Revolution.
- His work reflects the Age of Enlightenment, a shift toward scientific thinking over religious views.
- An Experiment with a Bird in an Air Pump (1768) is in the National Gallery, London.
- A Philosopher Giving a Lecture at the Orrery (1766) is in Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, UK.
- The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus (1771) is in Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby, UK.
- Wright was associated with the Lunar Society, including Erasmus Darwin and John Whitehurst.
- Erasmus Darwin was the grandfather of Charles Darwin and likely model for the thinking man in An Experiment with a Bird in an Air Pump.
- John Whitehurst was the model for the natural philosopher in An Experiment with a Bird in an Air Pump.
- The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus depicts Henning Brand discovering phosphorus in 1669.
- Wright's original title for The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus is 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.
Entities
Artists
- Joseph Wright of Derby
- Robert Boyle
- Erasmus Darwin
- Charles Darwin
- John Whitehurst
- Henning Brand
- Caravaggio
- Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery
Institutions
- National Gallery, London
- Derby Museum and Art Gallery
- Lunar Society
- French Academy of Art
- British Academy
- National Gallery
- Tate Britain
Locations
- Derby
- United Kingdom
- Britain
- London
- Hamburg
- Germany
- UK
- England