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Joseph Wright of Derby #657 Iconic

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personEnglish, 1734–1797lock_openPublic domain: US, EU, UK, CA, MX, CO · 94% confidenceplay_circleStream Art

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Selected Works160

Museum Acquisitions

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

Cleveland Museum of Art

Milwaukee Art Museum

Tate

Tate

Tate

Tate

Tate

Tate

Detroit Institute of Arts

Harvard Art Museums

Princeton University Art Museum

Princeton University Art Museum

Princeton University Art Museum

Princeton University Art Museum

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Ashmolean

Previous Sales 37

A moonlit landscape

A moonlit landscape

£107,100 ($141k USD)

Portrait of a gentleman in a red fur-trimmed coat, frogged waistcoat and a white turban

Portrait of a gentleman in a red fur-trimmed coat, frogged waistcoat and a white turban

£44,100 ($58k USD)

A grotto in the Gulf of Salerno, with the figure of Julia

A grotto in the Gulf of Salerno, with the figure of Julia

Sunrise over Florence

Sunrise over Florence

Vesuvius in eruption, viewed from Posillipo

Vesuvius in eruption, viewed from Posillipo, 1789

£1,222,500 ($1.6M USD)

Mr. and Mrs. William Chase, three-quarter length, in an interior by a window, the latter holding a bird

Mr. and Mrs. William Chase, three-quarter length, in an interior by a window, the latter holding a bird

Portrait of Thomas Oldknow (c.1755/6-1791) of Marple, full-length, in a green suit and breeches, in a landscape

Portrait of Thomas Oldknow (c.1755/6-1791) of Marple, full-length, in a green suit and breeches, in a landscape

£50,000 ($66k USD)

Arkwright's cotton mill, Cromford; and Willersley Castle, Cromford

Arkwright's cotton mill, Cromford; and Willersley Castle, Cromford

Portrait of Ralph Sneyd (1723-1793), half-length, in a blue velvet coat

Portrait of Ralph Sneyd (1723-1793), half-length, in a blue velvet coat

£22,500 ($30k USD)

A Blacksmith's Shop

A Blacksmith's Shop

£914,850 ($1.2M USD)

Portrait of a lady, possibly Elizabeth Pigot (c. 1726-1766), half-length, in a pink dress, with pearls and a shawl, in a wooded landscape

Portrait of a lady, possibly Elizabeth Pigot (c. 1726-1766), half-length, in a pink dress, with pearls and a shawl, in a wooded landscape

£22,500 ($30k USD)

Study of an old man, half-length, in a brown fur-lined coat

Study of an old man, half-length, in a brown fur-lined coat

A view of Vesuvius from Posillipo, Naples

A view of Vesuvius from Posillipo, Naples

£78,500 ($104k USD)

View in Dovedale, Derbyshire; and View of the Convent of San Cosimato and part of the Claudian Aquaduct near Vicovaro in the Roman Campagna

View in Dovedale, Derbyshire; and View of the Convent of San Cosimato and part of the Claudian Aquaduct near Vicovaro in the Roman Campagna

£602,400 ($795k USD)

View of Chee Tor, near Matlock, Derbyshire

View of Chee Tor, near Matlock, Derbyshire

£45,600 ($60k USD)

View of Mount Vesuvius erupting by Moonlight from the shore of Posilipo with a fishing boat in the foreground

View of Mount Vesuvius erupting by Moonlight from the shore of Posilipo with a fishing boat in the foreground

£31,200 ($41k USD)

An Italianate moonlit coastal scene, with Mount Vesuvius erupting in the distance

An Italianate moonlit coastal scene, with Mount Vesuvius erupting in the distance

£16,800 ($22k USD)

View of High Tor, Matlock, Derbyshire

View of High Tor, Matlock, Derbyshire

£14,937 ($20k USD)

Portrait of John Heath of Derby (d.1815), half-length, in a blue coat with a tricorn hat under his left arm

Portrait of John Heath of Derby (d.1815), half-length, in a blue coat with a tricorn hat under his left arm

£26,290 ($35k USD)

The Gulf of Salerno

The Gulf of Salerno

Portrait of Edward Abney of King Newton, seated three-quarter-length, in a green coat and black breeches, holding a letter in his left hand, before a red curtain

Portrait of Edward Abney of King Newton, seated three-quarter-length, in a green coat and black breeches, holding a letter in his left hand, before a red curtain

Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, in a blue coat and waistcoat

Portrait of a gentleman, half-length, in a blue coat and waistcoat

£14,100 ($19k USD)

Portrait of Sampson Copestake of Kirk Langley (d.1781), half-length, in a blue velvet uniform; and Portrait of Elizabeth Copestake, half-length, in a blue dress decorated with lace and pearls, in a landscape

Portrait of Sampson Copestake of Kirk Langley (d.1781), half-length, in a blue velvet uniform; and Portrait of Elizabeth Copestake, half-length, in a blue dress decorated with lace and pearls, in a landscape

£59,850 ($79k USD)

Portrait of Mrs. Fowler, half-length, in a blue dress, with a white shawl and bonnet, feigned oval

Portrait of Mrs. Fowler, half-length, in a blue dress, with a white shawl and bonnet, feigned oval

£5,287 ($7k USD)

An old man, half-length, in a brown fur-lined coat

An old man, half-length, in a brown fur-lined coat

Upcoming Auctions 2

Portrait of Harry Peckham (1740-1787), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a hat, with a terrier at his side

Portrait of Harry Peckham (1740-1787), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a hat, with a terrier at his side

Est. £250,000–£350,000

Portrait of Francis Noel Clarke Mundy (1739-1815), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a riding crop, with a hound at his side

Portrait of Francis Noel Clarke Mundy (1739-1815), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a riding crop, with a hound at his side

Est. £200,000–£300,000

For Sale 2

The National Gallery, London · Artsy

An Experiment on a Bird in the Air-Pump

An Experiment on a Bird in the Air-Pump, 1768

Erich Lessing Culture and Fine Arts Archive · Artsy

A Philosopher Gives a Lecture on the Orrery

A Philosopher Gives a Lecture on the Orrery, 1766

price_check

Market263 auction results

trending_upPaintings Range

$7.0K – $9.7M

36 of 41 paintings lots with prices

calculatePaintings Average

$787K

Object-type specific

show_chartPaintings Median

$58.2K

36 priced paintings lots

calendar_todayLast Paintings Sale

Jul 2023 · $141K

Latest tracked sale in this object type

categoryMarket by Object Type

Paintings: $58.2K medianSculpture/objects: $1.2K medianWorks on paper: — medianBooks/portfolios: $26.4K median

gavelTop Auction Houses

Sotheby'sChristie'sBonhamsBearne'sBonhams & Brooks

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Publications3

Monograph 1

Joseph Wright of Derby

Yale University Press · 2020

Exhibition Catalog 1

Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool

Yale University Press · 2008

Survey 1

A New Way of Seeing: The History of Art in 57 Works

Thames & Hudson · 2018

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Current Exhibitions0

No current exhibitions found.

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Recent News4

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Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund marks first decade

The Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund has announced support for 15 new exhibitions as it celebrates its tenth anniversary. This grant initiative pro…

policyApr 14, 2026

Art Fund celebrates decade of lending programme with Rossetti and Surrealist loans

The Art Fund is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Weston Loan Programme by facilitating the loan of major masterpieces to 15 regional UK instit…

newsApr 8, 2026

wadsworth atheneum president allison blais

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, has appointed Allison Blais as its new president and CEO, effective January 2026. Blais…

peopleNov 11, 2025

Just a number: drawing by 11-year-old Joseph Wright of Derby goes on view for the first time

A pencil drawing of the wreathed head of Silenus, created by Joseph Wright of Derby at age 11 in 1745, will go on public display for the first time at…

exhibitionsMay 23, 2025

history

Past Exhibitions5

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Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Science and the Sublime: A Masterpiece by Joseph Wright of Derby

Joseph Wright of Derby

Jan 1, 2022

Science and the Sublime: A Masterpiece by Joseph Wright of DerbyFeb. 12–May 30, 2022 | “Science and the Sublime: A Masterpiece by Joseph Wright of Derby” exp...

#2,312 Exhibit A London

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

May 10, 2026

#7,316 Between People Gallery

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

Joseph Wright of Derby

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

May 10, 2026

#7,315 Anathema

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

Joseph Wright of Derby

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

May 10, 2026

#7,314 Code de Art

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

Joseph Wright of Derby

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

May 10, 2026

stadium

Art Fair Appearances1

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TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht

2023

timeline

Recent Activity13

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Exhibition

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

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Exhibition

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

gallery_thumbnail

Exhibition

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

gallery_thumbnail

Exhibition

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

gallery_thumbnail

Exhibition

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

newspaper

News

Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund marks first decade

Apr 14, 2026

newspaper

News

Art Fund celebrates decade of lending programme with Rossetti and Surrealist loans

Apr 8, 2026

newspaper

News

wadsworth atheneum president allison blais

Nov 11, 2025

newspaper

News

Just a number: drawing by 11-year-old Joseph Wright of Derby goes on view for the first time

May 23, 2025

stadium

Art Fair

TEFAF Maastricht 2023

Mar 11, 2023

gallery_thumbnail

Exhibition

Science and the Sublime: A Masterpiece by Joseph Wright of Derby

Jan 1, 2022

event

death

Joseph Wright of Derby dies

Jan 1, 1797

event

birth

Joseph Wright of Derby born

Jan 1, 1734

newspaper

Related News5