“Matlock Old Bath, Sep. 3rd1797.“To Mr. Wright, Surgeon, Irongate, Derby.“Sir,“On passing through Derby, on Thursday last, I was on the point of sending a servant to your brother’s, for the purpose of making enquiries concerning him (meaning to go afterwards myself, if his health admitted), when I heard with much concern of his death. I feel sincere regret for a friend whom I had long known and valued highly. Mrs. Gisborne & myself, on our return through Derby yesterday, would have been glad to send our enquiries to Mr. Wright’s, but I was doubtful whether it might not then be premature to do so. I will therefore trouble you to express, at a proper opportunity, to Mrs. Cade & the rest of the family, our concern for their loss, and our sincere wishes for their health.“I am, Sir,“Your faithful & obedient servant,“THOS. GISBORNE.”
“Matlock Old Bath, Sep. 3rd1797.
“To Mr. Wright, Surgeon, Irongate, Derby.
“Sir,
“On passing through Derby, on Thursday last, I was on the point of sending a servant to your brother’s, for the purpose of making enquiries concerning him (meaning to go afterwards myself, if his health admitted), when I heard with much concern of his death. I feel sincere regret for a friend whom I had long known and valued highly. Mrs. Gisborne & myself, on our return through Derby yesterday, would have been glad to send our enquiries to Mr. Wright’s, but I was doubtful whether it might not then be premature to do so. I will therefore trouble you to express, at a proper opportunity, to Mrs. Cade & the rest of the family, our concern for their loss, and our sincere wishes for their health.
“I am, Sir,
“Your faithful & obedient servant,
“THOS. GISBORNE.”
With these notices of the death of Wright, and the subsequent sale of his pictures, my task is ended.
As the materials at my command have enabled me, I have striven to present a faithful record of his artistic and private life. As an artist, his genius was recognised in his own day; and it is satisfactory to know that his industrious pencil provided an ample income, and enabled him to realise a very sufficient competence for the years when age and infirmity grew upon him. But there were drawbacks to his attainment of greater fame and honours. He was a man of great sensitiveness, and of strong domestic feelings and habits. His retiring disposition, and the depressing maladies from which he suffered during many years of his life, indisposed him both mentally and physically for a residence in London, where an active life would have opened out to him more extended patronage and consequent advancement in his profession. As a man, the perusal of much private correspondence in addition to that here published, has led me to form a high estimate of his character. Loving in his family relationships, he was a faithful and generous friend, and of large sympathies.
His private life reflects as great honour on his name, as do his works on his artistic repute. The latter his own hand has imperishably handed down to us, and his memory may well be cherished as one who has shed undying lustre on his native town.
FINIS.