Mr. J. Holland, of Ford Hall, one of Wright’s executors, attended the sale at Christie’s, and on his return wrote the following quaint letter to Dr. Wright, the artist’s brother:—
“Ford, Augt11th1801.“Dear Sir,“On the 14thJuly & at 4 o’clock in the morning, Mrs.Holland and myself passed through Derby on our return from full ten weeks busling in noisy London. While the chaise was preparing at Derby, I could not forbear viewing the outside of your habitation, and wishing that the hour had been more seasonable that I might have seen how you all would have admired the Country Squire returned, and that you in your turn might have had an opportunity to have discovered the vast improvements I had made in Town manners, &c., &c. I had also with me your Brother’s drawings from Michael Angelo, which I wanted much to have left with you. They are, however, very safe here. I was not able to forward the disposal of them, tho’ I showed them to several artists, who commended them very highly. They were all of opinion that they should have been sold with the pictures. Do you remember Dr. Bates, who many years ago lived in your Town, and removed from thence to Aylesbury. Having been a long time in Rome, he knew the subjects perfectly, and thought them very fine studies. I want much to come to Derby, but cannot say when at present. I have very fine impressions both of Sir Richd. Arkwright and the ‘Tempest,’ which I trust to convey to those they are intended for in due time. I can say with my whole heart, that there was not a landscape in the Exhibition that could be compared to what used to be the production of your Brother’s pencil. But this I thought ill-manners to advance in London. The artists, indeed, I must say, whom I conversed with, were by no means niggardly in their commendations of Mr.Wright’s works. There were at the Exhibition some fine coloured drawings, particularly by Turner, who appears to be a very rising genius. Sir W. Beechy, Hopner, & Lawrence seem all three pretty near an equality. I shall leave all my rare anecdotes till I meet the worthy circle, and then you shall be told the wonders & no wonders that occurred to the Derbyshire man’s visit to London after 33 years’ absence. My kind regards and wishes to you and yours, and also at Spondon. The accounts, &c., shall come, when the bearer will be yours sincerely,“J. HOLLAND.â€
“Ford, Augt11th1801.
“Dear Sir,
“On the 14thJuly & at 4 o’clock in the morning, Mrs.Holland and myself passed through Derby on our return from full ten weeks busling in noisy London. While the chaise was preparing at Derby, I could not forbear viewing the outside of your habitation, and wishing that the hour had been more seasonable that I might have seen how you all would have admired the Country Squire returned, and that you in your turn might have had an opportunity to have discovered the vast improvements I had made in Town manners, &c., &c. I had also with me your Brother’s drawings from Michael Angelo, which I wanted much to have left with you. They are, however, very safe here. I was not able to forward the disposal of them, tho’ I showed them to several artists, who commended them very highly. They were all of opinion that they should have been sold with the pictures. Do you remember Dr. Bates, who many years ago lived in your Town, and removed from thence to Aylesbury. Having been a long time in Rome, he knew the subjects perfectly, and thought them very fine studies. I want much to come to Derby, but cannot say when at present. I have very fine impressions both of Sir Richd. Arkwright and the ‘Tempest,’ which I trust to convey to those they are intended for in due time. I can say with my whole heart, that there was not a landscape in the Exhibition that could be compared to what used to be the production of your Brother’s pencil. But this I thought ill-manners to advance in London. The artists, indeed, I must say, whom I conversed with, were by no means niggardly in their commendations of Mr.Wright’s works. There were at the Exhibition some fine coloured drawings, particularly by Turner, who appears to be a very rising genius. Sir W. Beechy, Hopner, & Lawrence seem all three pretty near an equality. I shall leave all my rare anecdotes till I meet the worthy circle, and then you shall be told the wonders & no wonders that occurred to the Derbyshire man’s visit to London after 33 years’ absence. My kind regards and wishes to you and yours, and also at Spondon. The accounts, &c., shall come, when the bearer will be yours sincerely,
“J. HOLLAND.â€
It will be noticed that the pictures were nearly all bought by private persons, and not by dealers; also that several pictures were “bought in†at the sale at Christie’s in 1801, which were afterwards sold in Derby, in 1810, at considerably enhanced prices. The following is a copy of the catalogue, the original being in the Mayer Collection:—
Note.—I am greatly indebted to Mr. Mayer, of Liverpool, for kindly allowing me the use of his collection of letters relating to Wright.
Note.—I am greatly indebted to Mr. Mayer, of Liverpool, for kindly allowing me the use of his collection of letters relating to Wright.
CATALOGUE OF
THE GENUINE COLLECTION OF
PICTURES,
Being a Selection of the most CAPITAL PERFORMANCES, of that esteemed Artist,
Mr. JOSEPH WRIGHT, ofDerby,deceased.
COMPRISING
The Alchymist;—The Old Man and Death;—A Philosopher in his Study, by lamp-light;—and
A capital View of an Eruption of Vesuvius:
Besides several other interesting Subjects;
Which will be Sold by Auction,
BY MR. SHAW,
AT THE TOWN HALL, IN DERBY,
On THURSDAY the 11th day of October, 1810,
(The Sale to commence immediately after the Morning’s Musical Performance.)[49]
May be viewed at the Town Hall, from Monday the 8th October, until twelve o’clock on Thursday the 11th of October. Admission, One Shilling, to be given to the Infirmary.