Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797)

Landscape with Figures and a Tilted Cart: Matlock High Tor in the Distance

Like Reynolds, Wright was apprenticed to the London-based portrait painter Thomas Hudson. He then returned to Derby to set up his own studio. Wright also worked in Liverpool and Bath before settling for good in his home city. He is best known for a series of 'candlelight pictures' which used dramatic lighting effects to contrast brightly lit figures against a dark background.

Wright's interest in light can be seen in this view looking towards High Tor in Derbyshire. High Tor became a popular subject for artists seeking picturesque subjects and Wright painted it several times. This version shows the tor glowing and the landscape marked by the pink light of the rising sun.

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