The Blacksmith's Shop
| The Blacksmith's Shop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Joseph Wright of Derby |
| Year | 1771 |
| Location | Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Derby |
The Blacksmith's Shop is a recurring theme of five paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby. The version in his home town was originally completed in 1771.
Description
Joseph Wright of Derby painted five paintings on the theme of a blacksmith's shop of a forge between the 1771 and 1773. The Derby Museum version is of a blacksmith's shop where three men work to manufacture an iron or steel component. The presence of visitors and the nocturnal work is explained by the farrier working outside. Wright has imagined that a traveler has broken down on a journey and the farrier is therefore working by the light of a candle.[1] This device allows Wright to show off his skill and interest in light and shadow.[2] To the right of the picture is an idle man leaning on a stick. Nicholson notes that this person is not dealt with harshly but with respect. The man appears too old to work but offers gravitas to those that are w.[1]
Other versions
Later versions which involve a forge rather than a blacksmith's more traditional way of working are now in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and in The Tate in London. In these the main figure is working with a power forge whilst he is observed by his family. The nocturnal nature of Wright's "night pieces" was different to his contemporaries. The real novelty was however in the subject matter. Water powered forges were not new, but Wright was being innovative in proposing that these scenes could be the subject of a fine artist. For this reason Wrights paintings are frequently used as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution and The Enlightenment. Wright was an important figure in relation to the Lunar Society and Derby Philosophical Society whose members were shaping the development of Science and Engineering in England.[3] In 1772, Wright created a 44 by 52 inch variation on this theme called The Iron Forge which was sold to Lord Palmerston for 200 pounds. This version is still in the Parmerstone family. Another 41 by 55 inch version titled An Iron Forge viewed from without was sold to Empress Catherine of Russia. Catherine the great later bought two other Wright paintings; one was of fireworks and another was from his Vesuvius paintings, however the painting of the forge was considered the best of the three.[4]
Another 1771 version was titled The Blacksmith's Shop and this sold to the 1st Lord Melbourne. It remained in the Melbourne family until it was purchased and given to Down House where it joined the collection in memory of Charles Darwin. This version is now in the Mellon collection.
Provenance
The 1771 painting was bought by the ArtFund and Derby Museum and Art Gallery in 1979 for approximately 69,000 pounds from the Greg family who had owned it since 1875.[5]
References
- ^ a b Benedict Nicolson; Paul Mellon Foundation for British Art (1968). Joseph Wright of Derby: painter of light. Paul Mellon Foundation for British Art; Routledge and K. Paul. pp. 51–. ISBN 9780710062840. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ The Blacksmith's Shop, Derby.gov.uk, accessed May 2011
- ^ Joseph Wright of Derby, Diane Perkins, The Tate, accessed 13 May 2011
- ^ Joseph Wright of Derby: Art, the Enlightenment and Industrial, RevolutionaryPlayers, accessed May 2011
- ^ The Blacksmith's Shop, artfund.org, accessed May 2011