No Estimate
REVISED CATALOGUE ENTRY DESCRIPTION - We inform potential purchasers of this work and all other interested parties that this Painting was inspected first hand on Tuesday 10th October 2017 in London by Professor Brian Allen working in his capacity as an 18th Century English Painting Specialist for the venerable firm of Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox, based in Bury Street, London. After considered inspection, he is of the opinion that the Painting is the work of Joseph Wright of Derby.
Accordingly the pre-sale estimate has been revised and is available upon request.
By Joseph Wright of Derby (British, 1734 - 1777), ''Italian landscape viewed through a cavern by moonlight'' circa 1774 to 1777. Possibly a capriccio incorporating a view from Neptune's Grotto at Tivoli, Italy This work is inspired by elements from the work ''Vue des Cascatelles de Tivoli'' and ''Landscape with Castle Ruins'' by Claude Joseph Vernet (French, 1714 - 1789). Oil on Linen Canvas hand inscribed verso ''D????? LINEN'' (Derveaux?, Artist Supplies, London, known to have supplied artists materials to Joseph Wright of Derby), later gilt framed, 50.5 cms (19.75 ins.) x 60.5 cms (23.75 ins.). Provenance: Private UK Collection of a Derby Antique Dealer from c1960, thence by family descent. Emilie Beck Saiello, the authority for the work of Claude Joseph Vernet and author of the Vernet Catalogue Raisonne, kindly offered the following guidance to Stephen Sheppard as follows ''The painting does not seem to me of Vernet, but of a British artist between Vernet and Wright of Derby, possibly Jacob More, Scottish?''. Joseph Wright of Derby (British, 1734 - 1777) was a self-taught artist who began his career copying engravings by master artists of the day including Claude Joseph Vernet (French, 1714 - 1789). In 1751 he moved to London to study under the portrait painter Thomas Hudson (1701 - 1779), another pupil of whom was Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792), the future president of The Royal Academy, London. Between 1773 and 1775, Wright carried out a study visit to Italy and was particularly influenced by the landscape painting of Claude Joseph Vernet, a French painter who was working in Rome at the time. Vernet's sunsets, moonlight scenes and shipwrecks displayed a mastery of atmospheric light. This encouraged Wright to paint Italian landscapes in the same manner, with nocturnal effects. Joseph Wright from 1773 - 1775 produced a series of study drawings known as ''The Italian Sketchbook'' which includes drawings from in and around Tivoli, Mt Vesuvius and Terni, Italy, now located at The Joseph Wright of Derby Museum in Derby, UK. Joseph Wright continued to draw inspiration for his landscapes from his visits to Italy throughout his life. William Bemrose in his book ''The Life and Works of Joseph Wright, ARA, commonly called Joseph Wright of Derby'', also records Joseph Wright as painting a ''Landscape viewed through a cavern by moonlight'' in 1776, (No.41) painted towards the end of Joseph Wright's life. Amina Wright, Senior Curator of the Holburne Museum in Bath, UK also comments in her book ''Joseph Wright of Derby, Bath and Beyond'', offering the following comment, ''1774 onward we find Wright returning to nocturnal landscapes lit by fire and moonlight''. Amina Wright Senior Curator of The Holburne Museum, Bath, UK and Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Art and The Joseph Wright Collection, Derby, UK are both familiar with this painting. The painting has been compared favourably to works of art in situ within The Joseph Wright Museum in Derby, in the presence of Lucy Bamford. For legal and technical reasons, Amina Wright and Lucy Bamford have to date not been in a position to support or reject the attribution of this painting to Joseph Wright of Derby. (Cleaned and some re-touching etc.,)
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
25.92% inc VAT*
