Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) - Mrs John Ashton - 659 - Fitzwilliam Museum

Joseph Wright (1734–1797), English painter who was a pioneer in the artistic treatment of industrial subjects. He was also the best European painter of artificial light of his day. Wright was trained as a portrait painter by Thomas Hudson in the 1750s. Wright’s home was Derby, one of the great centres of the birth of the Industrial Revolution, and his depictions of scenes lit by moonlight or candlelight combine the realism of the new machinery with the romanticism involved in its application to industry and science. His pictures of technological subjects, partly inspired by the Dutch followers of Caravaggio, date from 1763 to 1773; the most famous are An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768) and The Orrery (c. 1763–65). Wright was also noted for his portraits of English Midlands industrialists and intellectuals.

Born in Derby, England, he studied painting in London. Wright was known for his use of chiaroscuro (the contrast between light and dark) in his paintings, which gave them a dramatic effect. He was also interested in science and often painted scientific experiments and discoveries. Some of his most famous works include "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" and "The Orrery". Wright was a member of the Royal Academy and was highly respected during his lifetime. His legacy continues today as his works are still admired for their technical skill and artistic vision.