Latest news with #JosephWright
Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Kate Atkinson: it's too late for me to read War and Peace
The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff — a little gem of a novel from 1931 about a family taking their annual summer holiday. It's more of a character study than anything, because nothing really happens. In fact I found myself worrying that something would happen! An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby. I like my paintings to tell a story. In this one, which is in the National Gallery, a group of people have gathered to witness a demonstration of the necessity of oxygen. The oxygen has already been removed from the air-pump and the bird in question — a white cockatoo — looks to be on the point of expiring. The date is 1768, a cataclysmic period of change is coming and science is about to take over from God, and we are in a rather lovely drawing room watching a bird being suffocated.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Joseph Wright of Derby's 'final' self-portrait going up for auction
What is thought to be the final self-portrait by renowned UK artist Joseph Wright is going up for oil painting of the Derby artist is expected to fetch between £60,000 and £80,000 when it goes under the hammer at Sloane Street Auctions in London on 2 shows Wright, who was born in Derby in 1734 and is widely regarded as one of the most compelling British painters of his time, at the age of said this "outstandingly rare self-portrait" was one of at least nine painted by the artist, which he kept in his private collection until his death. 'Very wise man' Daniel Hunt, from Sloane Street Auctions, said the artwork was "of great significance". "The painting shows Joseph Wright towards the end of his career, as a man of great judgement."It's clear that he is very balanced and less flamboyant than in his earlier self-portraits."By this time he is a very wise man," he Hunt said the "very intimate" self-portrait was in a "beautiful condition" and in its original carved and gilt work is considered one of the most important artists of the British Enlightenment period and is known for his paintings of candlelit scenes as well as scientific and industrial paintings are in galleries all over the world, but the largest collection is held by Derby Museums.
