The National Gallery is set to illuminate the artistic world with a groundbreaking exhibition dedicated to Joseph Wright ‘of Derby’ (1734–1797). This landmark event, titled “Wright of Derby: From the Shadows,” marks the first-ever exhibition at the National Gallery to focus exclusively on Wright’s renowned ‘candlelight’ series.
Challenging conventional views, this exhibition portrays Wright not merely as a ‘painter of light’ but as an artist who deliberately explored the night-time to engage with profound themes. His work delves into death, melancholy, morality, scepticism, and the sublime, offering a fresh perspective on this figurehead of the Enlightenment era.
The exhibition’s centerpiece is a collection of masterpieces created between 1765 and 1773, a period that defined Wright’s career. For the first time in 35 years, visitors will have the opportunity to see iconic works such as “Three Persons Viewing the Gladiator by Candlelight” (1765), “A Philosopher giving that Lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the Sun” (1766), and the National Gallery’s own “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump” (1768) displayed together.
Wright’s ‘candlelight’ paintings capture thrilling moments of discovery and shared learning. His dramatic use of light and shadow links his work to Renaissance traditions, particularly reminiscent of Caravaggio’s style, which was rarely employed in British art before the mid-18th century. However, Wright’s genius lies in his ability to engage with contemporary philosophical questions about observation, spectacle, and education raised during the Enlightenment.
In “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump,” Wright presents a travelling lecturer demonstrating a scientific experiment to a family audience, their reactions ranging from wonder to horror. “The Orrery” showcases a philosopher lecturing on astronomy using a clockwork model of the solar system, with an oil lamp replacing the sun. These works not only display Wright’s technical mastery but also explore the moral ambiguity in acts of looking and the intellectual influence of ‘high’ art.
The exhibition goes beyond paintings to include works on paper and objects that provide context for Wright’s artistic practice and the scientific and artistic developments of his time. It will feature over twenty works, with seventeen pieces coming from Derby Museums, which holds the world’s largest collection of Wright’s work.
“Wright of Derby: From the Shadows” offers a unique opportunity to reassess the artist’s contribution to British art history. It highlights his role at a pivotal moment when public art displays and annual contemporary art exhibitions were gaining prominence. The inclusion of mezzotint prints in the exhibition underscores Wright’s savvy use of popular reproduction techniques to expand his reputation both domestically and internationally.
This extraordinary exhibition, organized in partnership with Derby Museums, will open its doors to the public in the autumn of 2025 at the National Gallery. In 2026, it will travel to Derby Museum and Art Gallery, bringing two of Wright’s most famous works back to his hometown for the first time in 80 years, offering a rare chance for art enthusiasts and historians alike to experience these masterpieces in a new light.
