Chapter VIII

CORRESPONDENCE OF WRIGHT WITH MR. DAULBY AND MR. J. L.
PHILIPS.--THE SHAKESPEARE GALLERY PICTURES.--DISPUTE ABOUT
PRICES.

“Derby, December 31^{st} 1779.
“TO D. DAULBY.

“The Empress of Russia has taken into Her capital collection
my two pictures of ‘Vesuvius’ & the ‘Girandolo,’ and given me
500 g^s for them which is a good reward accompanied with high
honour--40 g^s to a friend is as little as I can take for the
picture you saw of the Fireworks, if you mean that, if not it
will depend upon ye size & finishing of any other.”

“4^{th} June 1780.
“TO D. DAULBY.

“DEAR SIR,

“If nothing material happens to prevent me, I intend sending
by Shawcross on Monday morning, directed for M^{r.} Tate
as you desire, the picture of the ‘Girandolo’ which I hope
will get safe to hand, and meet with your and your friend’s
approbation. It is one of the highest finished pictures I
have painted. Cost me upwards of six weeks study, and was put
into ye exhibition at 100^{gs.} As you are only to send me
forty (which I must beg you to keep secret) you must look upon
it partly as a compliment on M^{r.} Tate’s account, and in
some degree a compliment to yourself as a well-wisher to and
encourager of the arts. With respect to the payment, I would
wish you to suit your convenience; any time in the course of
the next year will be agreeable to me.

“I have made no alteration in the picture, as I could not
with advantage, but most sincerely wish there had been such a
Rocket as you wish for. To add it now would destroy too much
ye unity of the picture.”

“TO D. DAULBY. “Derby, Nov 14^{th} 1785.

“DEAR SIR,

“The cavern with the figure of ‘Julia,’ which I exhibited in
the spring, is still in my possession. It was esteemed by the
artists the most sublime picture I ever painted, & so I think
myself. A rising moon always conveys to me great majesty.

“I think myself much honoured by your society. Pray make my
best compt^s to all the members, and believe me your much
obliged friend,

“JOS^{H.} WRIGHT.”

“I am going to have my picture of ‘Gibraltar’ raffled for by
eighty subscribers at five guineas a ticket. The subscription
is not yet opened publickly, though I have several names down.

“Danl. Daulby, Jun., Esq.,
“Liverpool.”

“MY DEAR SIR,

“Many thanks are due to you for the trouble you have had in
negotiating the business between Mr. Hardman and myself, and
of which I shall retain a grateful remembrance, as I have
had repeated proofs of your attention to my best interest, &
even in your last letter have anticipated my wish of making
my intention of disposing of the picture of ‘Gibraltar’ by
subscription as much known as possible in the circle of
your acquaintance, for it is not lawful without an act of
parliament to advertise a Raffle. I must, therefore, be
obliged to my friends to declare my intention of having eighty
subscribers at five guineas. I hope your friend Mr. Hardman
will not mention the price he gives for the pair of caverns,
as I have always had fifty guineas a piece for them of that
size.

“You say you hope I will excuse the free thoughts you have
intrusted me with respecting the large cavern with the figure
of ‘Julia.’ ’Tis the privilege of friends to be open to each
other, and if I knew what you really wished I would most
certainly accommodate myself to your inclinations. Will you
have the picture sent to you? If you approve of it keep it,
and pay me for it as shall best suit your conveniency. If you
do not like it return it, and we shall both be pleased, for as
it was esteemed by the artists the most sublime picture I ever
painted, I doubt not but I shall one day or other dispose of
it; and believe me, dear sir, with much esteem,

“Yours sincerely,
“JOS^{H.} WRIGHT.
“Derby, Jan. 14, 1786.
“Danl. Daulby, Jun., Esq.,
“Liverpool.”

“Derby, Feby. 7^{th} 1786.
“TO J. DAULBY, JUN.

“DEAR SIR,

“By the time this reaches you, I hope ‘Julia’ will be
near her journey’s end. I sincerely hope she will arrive in
good condition, and that ‘Abraham’ and ‘Isaac’ will not be
found to have lain too hard upon her. I did everything in my
power to keep her untouched and spotless. I should have sent
the picture off sooner, but the week the man who I trust to
pack my pictures was out, and the 2^{nd} Shawcross, after
promising me to take it, neglected it. ’Tis directed to Mr.
Tate, and to go by land carrier.

“I am persuaded by my friends to take the fashionable tour
of the Lakes next Autumn. I sounded my dear friend Tate upon
the scheme, but have not heard from him since. If we go your
company will be a happy addition, but I would have the party
small, none engaged in it but draftsmen, for reasons too
obvious to need mentioning.

“I am,
“Dear Sir, with much esteem,
“Yours very sincerely,
“JOS^{H.} WRIGHT.
“Dan^l Daulby, Jun., Esq^r
“Liverpool.”

“Derby, March 25^{th} 1786.
“DEAR SIR,

“I was sorry to be informed by our friend Tate of your
indisposition, and that you are still, by your own accts. a
cripple. Dr. Darwin, a very eminent physician of this town, is
very much disposed to gout, and he told me while he continued
in the use of wine he was affected with it. He left it off,
and drank nothing but ale and small beer. Still he had fits of
it, but much weakened. He then disused ale, drank nothing but
small beer, still he had a little gout about him. He has for
some time past drank nothing but water, and now he has no gout
at all. If this practice does not coincide with your opinion,
I know your good sense will excuse me taking the liberty of
mentioning to you, as your well-being is the sole motive.

“To Dan^l Daulby, Esq^r
“Liverpool.”

“Derby, Oct 5^{th} 1786.
“DEAR SIR,

“Mr. Smith gives this discription, which I have just received,
of the parts of your little picture:--‘The view is on the
shore of Posilipo in particular. The houses nearest in
view form part of the village of Mare Chiare, a place much
frequented by the lower class of people in Naples to spend
the summer evenings. They generally go by water, and are
regaled with hard eggs & good Falernian wine (the usual repast
brought from the neighbourhood of Pozzouli). The other house
or palazzo on the Hill in the distance is called the pallace
of 9 windows, but is inhabited only by servants. When you see
my good friend Turner make my best regards to him, and say
how much I am obliged to him & his friend M^r Whiatt for his
accurate account of Shakespear’s scenes. I am, dear sir, with
much regards,

“Yours,
“J. WRIGHT.
“To Danl. Daulby, Esqre.”

“Derby, Sep 4^{th} 1787.
“DEAR SIR,

“How welcome are the good tidings of returning health to my
dear Tate, which you have so kindly communicated to me. May
heaven speedily restore him to his former health & vigour. No
disease more compleatly debilitates the frame than a nervous
or putrid fever; and, if I have observed right, there is none,
considering the state the body is reduced to, from which it
is sooner reinstated. His premeditated attack upon the cold
roast beef was, I think, a very favourable presage of the
above observation. I sincerely hope he made an excellent
repast, and feels the good effect of it. Make my love to him
with every good wish for his felicity, in which this family
most cordially joins with me, and hope to have the pleasure
of seeing him here when convenient to him. I am going for
ten days (if it agrees with me) to Matlock. The Baths served
me some time ago, but from a particular circumstance, being
obliged to ride four & twenty miles the day I left, which so
fatigued me, my complaints returned upon me, nor can I wear
them off.

“’Tis now almost four months since I touched a pencil. Have no
particular complaint but general debility, which has reduced
me to so torpid a state I feel no inclination to pursue my art.

“I am, Dear Sir,
“Your most obedient serv^t
“JOS^H WRIGHT.
“M^r Jn^o Leigh Philips,
“Manchester.”

“5 May, 1789.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“I did not intend fixing a price upon my pictures in the
Exhibition till I got to Town, but having just received a
letter from M^{r.} Heath to know if the picture of the ‘Dead
Soldier’ was disengaged, and what value I set upon it, it
becomes necessary at once to fix the prices of those you
enquire after, and to have your answer by return of post, as
I must answer M^{r.} Heath’s letter. The picture of the ‘Dead
Soldier,’ framed, 100g^{s.} ‘Boy and Girl with a Bladder,’
50g^{s.} ‘Girl with a Charcoal Stick,’ 40g^{s.}

“I am very happy it was in my power to afford you and your
friends rational entertainment while with me. The felicity was
mutual, believe me; and that I am very sincerely yours,

“JOS^H WRIGHT.
“St. Ellens,
“5 May, 1789.

“My best compliments attend the ‘Triumvirate,’ in which
M^{rs.} Wright begs to join.”

“Derby, Dec. 4, 1789.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“Pray how is my friend Tate? He has given of late but a bad
account of himself; is obliged to live with great uniform
temperance, and deny himself that conviviality he is so well
calculated for. I wrote to him some little time ago, part of
which letter I make no doubt but you are acquainted with,
as it was my wish you should. You see I have enough of the
Devil in me to wish to retaliate upon the misguided Alderman
(Boydell), who I hear loses ground very fast, and will shortly
have none to work for him but his half-starved creatures.

“I am engaged at present and shall be for some time with
portraits, so that my historical pictures are, I fear, very
distant. However, I do not lose sight of them, and as the
hour’s exercise I daily take on horseback seems to contribute
much to my health, I hope to be a tiptop by and by to attack
’em.

“However light my friend Smith made of the gout when you was
with him, it has proved a serious affair to him, subjecting
him to much pain and a long disuse of his pencil. Pity it is a
man’s industry should prove an evil to him, and his laudable
endeavours to provide for his tender offspring frustrate its
own intention. Adieu, my good friend, and believe me yours
very sincerely,

“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“St. Ellens, 24 June, 1791.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“Yesterday I received a letter from the Sec^y of the Spring
Gardens Exhibition to know the price I had fixed upon the
picture of “Antigonus,” a gentleman having applied for it, and
desired him to write to me. Mr. Barrow, the Sec^y told him
the conditions which I meant to part with the large pictures,
namely, that they should be engraved from, by capital artists
(which was not strictly what I meant). To this he had no
objection, and assured him if he purchased the picture it
should be engraved by M^{r.} Middiman, or some artist of equal
reputation. It should seem from hence the person who is about
the picture buys it with an intent to have a plate made from
it, which will preclude my having it done by Heath, though
from what you said to me last on that head, there are little
grounds for hope of that ever taking place. Pray do you know
the character of Mr. Middiman as an engraver?

“I should not have troubled my friend with this business (tho’
I am at all times and all occasions happy to have his advice)
had not my friend Tate, when last here, asked the price of the
‘Storm’ for your Brother, M^{r.} H. Philips, at which time
I did not give him a decisive answer. Therefore I think it
incumbent on me, before I treat with the Gentleman, to inform
you the price is 100g^{s.} and shall be glad of your answer by
return of post if convenient.

“The extremely cold weather immediately succeeding very hot,
has diseased me very much. I have had for some time past a
nervous fever hanging about me, and am now much disturbed
with an inflammation on my liver. Art stands still. Adieu, my
good friend, and believe me, with much respect,

“Yours very sincerely,
“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“Derby, Sep. 24^{th} 1792.
“MY DEAR PHILIPS,

“This morning I have sent off by Shawcross a case addressed to
you, containing the book of drawings after Mic. Angelo, and
a slight sketch of a wild scene which I painted some years
ago. I looked it up the other day, and if you think it worth a
place in your collection, please accept it with my esteem.

“The picture of the ‘Ponte Salerno’ is in such a state I shall
not be able to finish it at present. I retouched the sky some
time ago & some other parts of the picture, & the colours are
changed in a most abominable manner. One never can depend upon
fresh colours laid on old. I hope the little picture I have
sent you will not share the same fate. I have finished the
‘Storm’ except the figure of Antigonus. Your Brother Frank
seemed to like it much; indeed those who have seen it give it
the preference to the other. I have brought ye ship nearer,
which heightens the distress of the scene; and being much
larger, the masts go above the horizon, and make a ballance to
the other side of the picture.

“I am going to begin a cottage on fire for a Gentleman at
Bristol. He has offered me 50g^{s.} to finish it highly. I
have also finished Tate’s ‘Moonlight,’ which is much admired.
I think I shall send it with the ‘Storm,’ not by way of
receiving the cash--for that I forbid--but to give you taste
and pleasure, for I flatter myself it will. Perhaps if he has
no place to hang it, you would give it house room till wanted.

“When I have thought a little more about manufacturing
pictures, and have digested a plan for such business, I shall
like it much, if I can get a sale for them. I have got two
or three on the stocks. The one is finished, the other far
advanced. The finished one is on a pannel, which I had by me,
but the smooth surface is not calculated for expedition. The
subject is ‘The Lake of Albano,’ sunset. Being done from one
pallet, there is great unity and harmony in the colouring.
When you have received the case, pray give me a line, for I
shall wish to know Mic. Angelo is safe in your possession.
Adieu, my good friend. Give my respects to M^{rs.} Philips and
all my friends, in which comp^{l.} Romana wishes to unite.

“I am, very sincerely yours,
“J. W.
“To J. L. Philips.”

“Nov. 29^{th} 1792.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“To have read such flattering accounts of my picture from all
hands is highly satisfactory to me, and none more so than
the last. With respect to the payment, as you are so kind to
take my cash into your hands, I wish you would place it with
the rest, and in a few posts I will remit between 5 & £600
to be added to the other sums. I thank you for your friendly
advice about the ‘Indian Widow,’ and tell our friend Tate,
who I suppose will communicate it to M^{r.} McNiven, that in
consideration of a little of his assistance to lay out my
property to advantage, I will deduct 10g^{s.} I sent it off by
Shawcross last Monday, and hope it will be safe in Manchester
ere this gets to hand. I have remembered the outline of
‘Vesuvius’ for friend Tate, which I should think may be
enveloped in smoke, but no fire should appear, indeed the hot
Lava does not show itself by daylight.

“I am glad to hear plates are in readiness for Mic. Angelo. I
fear I shall never do my part; my hand is too unsteady now for
lines. Adieu, my good friend. Romana wishes to join in best
remembrances to you & M^{rs.} Philips & your family, to our
dear friend Tate, Mr. Moreland, &c.

“Dear Sir,
“Your much obliged friend,
“JOS^H WRIGHT.
“Derby, Nov. 29th 1792.”

“Pray what is your opinion of the Stocks at this time? I have
a little property in, and have some thoughts of selling out.
I bought in about 76. The little picture on pannel is too
square; the right measure of ye frame at the end should cover
⅛^{th} in., and ye top and bottom ½″, which will bring the
picture into better proportion.”

The Plates for Mic. Angelo here alluded to evidently refer to the reproduction on copper of some of Wright’s sketches from the “Sistine Chapel,” for we find Wright sending the sketches to Philips on Sep. 24th, 1792. There is in existence an impression from copper of one of them, partly in aquatint, but whether from the hand of Wright or Philips it is now impossible to say.

“Derby, 31^{st} Dec., /92.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“Enclosed I send you Mess^{rs.} Crompton’s Draught on
Mess^{rs.} Ayton, Brassey, Lees, & Co., their Bankers, Lombard
Street, for £460, payable in fourteen days, which you will
be kind enough to acknowledge the receipt of as soon as you
can make it convenient. What you said in your last respecting
money matters makes an apology on this account unnecessary.
Nevertheless, I must say I feel the obligation very sensibly;
and now let me thank you for a Barrel of excellent oisters.
Your Brother H. spent part of a day with us. I was in a
working humour, so I did not let his visit stop the progress
of my pencil. He sat by me, and seemed pleased with the rapid
advance of my picture, for it was one of my playthings, or
sketches that I was engaged with, which, with six others,
I intend to send you next week for yours and my friends’
inspection. ‘A Morning Effect of the Lake of Albano’ is a
companion to Wilson’s ‘Evening Effect,’ for my dear friend
Tate. I wish it may be found a meet one. I have just prepared
a canvas the size of Tate’s ‘Moonlight,’ for an evening
effect on another view on the River Tay at Dunkeld, which,
if care and study will accomplish it, I intend it to be the
best picture I ever painted. I know not how it is, tho’ I am
engaged in portraits and made a complete dead colour of a half
length yesterday, I find myself continually stealing off and
getting to Landscapes.

“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“Derby, 17^{th} January, 1793.
“MY DEAR FRIEND,

“I am glad to find, by my friend Tate, the box of Sketches are
got safe to hand, and that you approve of them. They ought,
as my friend may see by the direction, to have been delivered
almost a week ago. I can’t help doing too much to them as
sketches, and if any other person than yourself was to have
the culling of them, I should certainly charge something more
for those that were selected. You are then indebted to me for
three 30g^s, and if Tate cannot get more for the remaining
four, they must go at that price. I am sorry your Brother Hy.
did not fix the price for ‘Antigonus,’ as he knew all the
circumstances. He was certainly the proper person to have
done it, but since it is left to me, I must observe, I have
no claim upon him for more than 100g^s, as I offered him the
other picture for that sum; but in justice to myself I must
say it deserves more, considering the pains I took with it,
and the charges of the frame, &c., amounting to near £13; but
whether he chooses to give me the advanced price, £12Og^{s.},
must be at his option.

“Very Sincerely,
“JOS^H WRIGHT.

“I am sorry I cannot fulfil my engagement with M^{r.}
Moreland. M^{r.} Gisborne does not think himself at liberty to
divulge Smith’s mode of washing with water-colours.

“To M^{r.} J. L. Philips.”

“Feby. 26, 1793.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“M^{r.} W^{m.} Hardman called last night. I showed him the
pictures by candle-light, but I don’t think he could see them
well. They did not seem to reach his feelings, except a small
one of an effect of fire, seen through a dark group of trees,
with a large piece of water reflecting the objects about it.
Had he not in his possession the cottage, I believe he would
have purchased it. ’Tis a new subject, and rather a favourite
with me. If there should be an exhibition this year,
independent of ye Royal Academy, I perhaps may show it to the
public, as also the companion to the ‘Moonlight,’ in my friend
Tate’s hands, which, now being near finished, and if I flatter
not myself, will be a tolerable picture. ’Tis full of air, and
has depth, two necessary requisites for a Landscape.

“I have a great inclination to send you this fire piece to
look at. I think it would give you pleasure. If Manchester was
nearer I certainly would.

“How goes Mic. Angelo on? Can you give me _proof_ of your
abilities yet?

“I often wish I lived with you, that my productions might
receive the benefit of your strictures ere they go out into
the world, & myself enjoy your friendly conversation; but my
lot is cast otherwise. Adieu, my dear friend, and whether near
or distant, believe me ever yours,

“JOS^H WRIGHT.
“J. L. Philips.”

“King Street, Feby. 19, 1794.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“The day after you left us I set to work upon the picture of
‘Vesuvius,’ to remove the stiffness of the line of Lava made
across it (and which always dissatisfied me), by bringing
the trees more over it; but it would not do, for what proved
beneficial to the one was injurious to the other, by bringing
the groupe of trees & rock much in a line. I have therefore
illuminated the ground, over which the Lava is about to pass,
very strongly, set fire to the plants & raised a fresh smoke,
which here & there passes across the lava, & effectually
does the business. I have also increased the quantity &
brilliancy of the smoke which arises from the upper surface of
the lava, so that the centre of the picture is more lighted
up, & the general effect much improved. I have added the
forked lightning, which ever attends the dark smoke, & which
increases the horror of the subject without disturbing the
effect; and on Tuesday I intended putting in ye figures & the
finishing touches to your picture, when, alas! I was suddenly
seized with the sore throat & fever, a common complaint here.
My lungs (a weak part) have suffered much. I have a very bad
cough; my frame is much debilitated; the fever is abated.
Thank you for your attention (which is ever awake to serve
your friends) to ye exhibition business. As they have _long
ago thrown me on their shelf_, I do not feel inclined to sue
for protection, but perhaps when my nerves are more settled I
may see it in another light.

“Yours most sincerely,
“J. W.”

“Your picture of ‘Vesuvius,’ and one at Dunkeld, would have
been at Manchester before now, had not the frames of the
pictures which I exhibited been materially damaged at the
Academy. M^{r.} Milbourne has orders to put them into good
condition, & send them to you when done.

“Derby, June 29, 1794.”

“Derby, Dec. 27, 1794.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“Your relation (Mr. N. Philips), to whom I some time ago sold
the picture of the ‘City of Florence,’ called upon me last
week, & engaged the picture with the ‘Rainbow,’ the ‘Cottage
on Fire,’ & the small ‘Sea Storm,’ which I find he intends
sending to America. I am sorry the two first leave the Kingdom.

“He seems anxious that I should paint him the ‘Siege of
Toulon,’ for which he will not exceed 100^{gs.} The scenery
must be very complicated, & so many objects & incidents cannot
be painted for that sum. I sometime ago refused a like sum for
any sized picture I would paint of the ‘Siege of Gibraltar.’

“Did you not give me some hopes of seeing drawings by an
officer of the engagement at Toulon, or have I dreamt it? Pray
inform me soon, as I must satisfy Mr. Philips.

“JO^S WRIGHT.”

“Your letter has poured balsam into my wound. I have heard
nothing but humiliating observations on my pictures, which
have tended much to the inactivity of my pencil for some time
past. What a mere machine am I become, depressed and rendered
useless by a little censure, & put into motion again by a
little flattery. I really believe my enemies might easily
persuade me I have no pretensions to paint. What a thing have
these weak nerves made of me.”

“Feby., 1795.
“TO J. L. PHILIPS,

“I am sorry to learn from my friend Tate that he does
not acquit himself in the pictures of the Lakes to his
expectation. He is acquainted with my principles, such as
they are. I wonder he does not with more certainty avail
himself of them; but they are different subjects, and I have
sometime seen effects in ye country repugnant to common-sense
principles, and which I could by no means account for. I have
a picture in hand of the sort of Keswick Lake.

“Did you pick up much painting knowledge in your late visit to
the Captain’s, or only the quackery of the art? Would I had as
much strength as the Captain, I flatter myself I would carry
the art a great way.”

“30 March, 1795.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“I am sorry to find Heath still procrastinates. He was to have
begun on the ‘Dead Soldier’ in good earnest last Midsummer.
Another is approaching fast, & nothing more done to it. I
despair seeing it finished, & many of the subscribers to
my portion of the prints are dead. Well, patience, as the
Italians say, & you have as much need of it as I.

“The very severe winter we have had has almost demolished me.
Just after Xmas I paid a visit to my friend Gisborne. It was a
young trick of me to sally forth at that time of the year, but
he tempted me with sending his carriage; and wrapping myself
up in Flannels, I thought myself invulnerable. Unfortunately
for me it proved otherwise. I have been dreadfully ill
ever since. I am now wounded at so many points. I despair
of ever being well again. I have had Darwin’s advice, and
about a fortnight ago he ordered me to have a hot bath
every night, from 94 to 96 degrees of heat, in which I stay
half-an-hour. It has certainly braced me, & removed some
disagreeable sensations, but I am still too much oppressed
to think of handling the pencil, & what is worse I feel not
ye least inclination to paint. I am glad to hear my friend
Tate succeeds so well in water colors. I dare say when the
application of them is well understood, it is pleasant work.
Make my best regards to him, to Mr. Philips, and to all my
friends, and believe me with much esteem yours most truly,

“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“May 29 /95.

“I wish for my own sake--as well as for your feelings--for I
know you participate in the good or ill which attends your
friends that I could give a better account of myself. I have
now been five months without exercising my pencil, and without
a hope that I shall again resume it. I seem to have outlived
my art, a reflection, tho’ in no way favourable to the
restoration of my health, will continually obtrude itself upon
me.

“I am glad to hear my good friend has laid hold of his brushes
again. Paper and camel hair pencils are better adapted to the
amusement of ladies than the pursuit of an artist. Give my
love to him, & tell him he should not avail himself of my long
silence, the effect only of ill-health. I wish to hear from
him.

“I understand by your relation y^t you have built a steam
house, which is productive beyond credit, & that you are
over-run with cucumbers. If this is really the case, pray let
2 or 3 run over to Derby. Am not I very impudent?”

“Derby Oct 2^{nd} 1795.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“I take up my pen with much pleasure to communicate to my dear
friends at Manchester, ‘who participate in my welfare,’ that
a few days ago, after a truce to my pencil for ten _dreadful
months_, I felt the dawn of inclination to resume it, and on
Friday last made, with trembling hands, some feeble efforts.
Disuse and the loss of much strength has made the employment
rather vexatious, but facility will come in proportion to my
practice.

“I thought I should never have had it in my power to finish
the pictures your relative engaged, but they are now within a
few hours of being compleated.

“The picture of the little elegant bit of scenery at Rydall,
which my friend Holland mentioned to you, is not near being
finished. The water indeed is further advanced than ye rest of
ye picture, for I was keen to produce an effect which I had
never seen in painting of shewing the pebbles at the bottom
of the water with the broken reflections on its surface.
But I have not succeeded to my wish, & Holland, who sees
all my works thro’ the most partial medium, has colored his
description too highly. So highly finished is that little bit
of nature that to do it justice it should be painted upon ye
spot.

“Your account of the Isle of Man makes me wish to see it.
We often see fine shaped rocks than fine coloured ones; the
patches of different colours are not large and distinct enough
to have effect at a distance. The different hues are produced
by small mosses rather than by original colours in the stones.

“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“Derby, Dec 18^{th} 1795.
“MY DEAR SIR,

“I am at all times very happy to hear from you, and if at any
time there is the appearance of omission, the multiplicity of
your avocations make your apology.

“I have had too many substantial proofs of your attention to
my interest to doubt ye sincerity of your friendship to me. I
should be highly to blame, without cause, to deprive myself of
so inestimable a blessing.

“I have put the last touches to your little finished bit of
scenery of ‘Rydal Waterfall,’ which you have commissioned me
to send you, which I will do as soon as it is dry enough to
pack safely; but, that you may not take it upon the character
of my friends, who, as I said before are partial and sanguine,
you shall, if it meets not with your entire approbation, have
the power of returning it. Your feelings upon the occasion may
be different to theirs, and I would not have you buy a pig in
a poke. It is a very intricate subject, and I never wished
myself out of a wood so much in my life.

“I shall continue to work a little almost every day, & if
the spasms upon my lungs keep off I hope to gain strength. I
cannot describe the pleasure I feel upon resuming the pencil
when I am tolerably well.

“JOS^H WRIGHT.”

“I have sent off to Nottingham your kinsman’s pictures, where
they are to remain sometime ’ere they are to be sent to
America.”

“Derby, 11 Apl., 1796.

“Ill-luck ever attends my pursuits. A few days after you left
me, I was again visited with an asthmatic fit, which was in a
day or two succeeded by a second, whereby I was so debilitated
I could not employ my pencil at all for many days, & have not
since found my exertions equal to the great picture; have
therefore given up all thoughts of exhibiting it this year at
least, whatever I may be induced another, but, from abuses I
have received from the Academy, I never feel very anxious to
get among them. They are in general an illiberal set of men, &
the less one has to do with ’em the better.

“JO^S WRIGHT.”

Wright painted two pictures for Alderman Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery, viz:--“Prospero in his cell, showing a visionary spectacle to Ferdinand & Miranda,” for which he received 300 guineas; and “The Storm in the ‘Winter’s Tale,’” for which 140 guineas was paid.

Wright addressed the following letter to the Alderman respecting the former picture:--

“Derby, 12^{th} March, 1789.
“SIR,

“I should have sent you the dimensions of the picture by
return of post, but it was till to-day so folded up it could
not be measured with any accuracy. The exact size is 12ft. 0¼
in. by 8ft. 6in., to hang horizontally. It will be necessary
to have a good straining frame, with the inner edge well
rounded off, for if left square it always makes a mark in the
picture. The reason I mention a fresh straining or wedging
frame is, the one the picture is on has been cut in so many
places to accommodate it to my painting-room; it is too weak
to use again but for the purpose of painting on, if I should
again have occasion for so large a one.

“The picture is now finished, unless a fresh eye discover
anything in a few days to be corrected. I most heartily unite
with you in wishing I may make a conspicuous figure in your
exhibition.

“The picture by the time you will want it, will, I hope, be
dry enough to roll upon a cylinder without damage, which I
think the safest way of sending it, for it is much too large
to go flat.

“I am, Sir,
“Your very humble Serv^{t.}
JOSEPH WRIGHT.

“Mr. Alderman Boydell,
“Cheapside,
“London.”

Before Wright painted the Bear in the “Storm,” he wrote to Gilpin for his opinion, who sent him some sketches of Bears (one of which was introduced in the picture), with the following letter:--[45]

“Knightsbridge, Wednesday.
“DEAR SIR,

“I send you the enclosed sketch as soon as possible, that
I may have time to make a more finished one if it does not
answer your purpose. If it does not, please let me know by
return of post, and I will go a Bear hunting to the Tower,
or somewhere or other, and sketch one from nature, if
possible.... I think with you, that the pursuit is better than
the horrid act of tearing.

“Your sincere Friend and Servant,
“S. GILPIN.”

Hayley, in his life of Romney, thus alludes to Wright and his engagement to paint for Boydell’s Shakspeare Gallery:--“Nov. 4^{th} 1786. Mr. Josiah Boydell entertained the little party of friends to the projected Gallery whom he has named in his preface to Shakspeare. I wrote nothing in its favour except a brief sketch, and a letter to engage my friend Wright, of Derby, to paint for the Gallery. My application to Wright was made at the earnest desire of the Alderman.”

It appears that when the time for payment came, Wright was dissatisfied with what Boydell offered to him for his picture of “Ferdinand and Miranda.” Whether Hayley, the poet, who appears to have been the go-between for the painter & Boydell, placed the matter before Wright in such a light that Boydell did not afterwards approve of, it is now impossible to say. Wright, however, wrote the following letter, which drew forth a characteristic reply from Boydell, who adopts the usual plan of “abusing the plaintiff.”

“Derby, July 26^{th} 1789.
“TO ALDERMAN BOYDELL.

“SIR,

“I understood by my friend M^{r.} Hayley, that, forming a
Gallery of pictures from the works of Shakespeare was first
agitated in a private party, of which he was one; that the
artists were to be classed, ye first class to consist of Sir
Joshua, M^{r.} West, M^{r.} Romney, &c., and your humble
servant; that those in that class were to have 300g^{s.} a
picture, more or less, according to the size & work they
might have in them; and that he was extremely happy to find
the artists had entered upon this most laudable work with a
spirit & liberality that reflected the highest honour upon
them, resolving to sacrifice interest to fame. On these
grounds I began and finished my picture upon the largest size
then proposed. In the course of executing my picture, which,
through ill-health, was much protracted, I learnt from good
authority that ye original plan was quite deserted, that you
bought pictures of any size (and which were not designed for
the Gallery), and that the artists painted their subjects on
such sized canvasses as they thought proper, and made the best
terms they could with you. This, I have reason to believe, is
the case, from what I saw and heard when in Town last. Upon
your asking me when in the Gallery (together) what I expected
for my picture, I told you that, being very remote from the
scene of business, I was unacquainted with the prices you had
given; that I should leave myself to you, not doubting but
you would pay me as you had ye rest, upon which, pointing to
one of M^{r.} Northcote’s pictures, you answered, We give him
25Og^{s.} And, pray, said I, what do you give to M^{r.} West
for his? Oh, replied you, was I to pay all ye artists as I
have done M^{r.} West, I might soon shut up the Gallery. I
felt much mortified at this unworthy treatment, for such I
cannot but think it, and left you.

“Now, Sir, I knew at the time, and have been confirmed in it
since, that you gave Sir Joshua 5OOg^s for his small picture,
and a very considerable fee besides; also, that you gave
M^{r.} West 5OOg^s for his picture, and yet you were paving
the way to offer me a much less sum. Is not my picture as
large as M^{r.} West’s? Has it not equal, nay, more, work
in it? Is it not as highly finished? And has not the public
spoken as well of it? Then why should you attempt to make a
difference in our price? Till you can give me a satisfactory
reason why I should take less, I shall certainly expect the
same. Had the work been carried on by the artists, with that
generous and laudable spirit which my friend Hayley held out
to me, I would have scorned to have been behind the most
liberal of them; but for me alone to adhere to the first plan
would be the highest folly, as I should thereby not only lose
the pecuniary advantage, but endanger my reputation, a point
which I consider as of far greater moment.

“I mentioned the circumstances to some of my friends in Town,
& to others since my return into the country, and they all
agree that I have strong reasons to complain of your treatment.

“I am, Sir,
“Your Obedient
“JOS^H WRIGHT.

“P.S.--I heard also when in Town from very respectable Artists
that you had agreed to give M^{r.} Copley 1000g^s for his
picture. If so, your conduct in this business is most strange.”

“Cheapside, Aug. 3 /89.
“SIR,

“I sit down to answer the most extraordinary Letter I ever yet
received, wherein you inform me of a great many circumstances
that I never heard of concerning the conduct of a work that I
thought I was somewhat acquainted with.

“You begin your letter by telling me that you understood that
I had classed the Painters according to their rank, and you
gave me a list of the first class, in which you place your
own name. Now, Sir, I never presumed to class the Painters. I
leave that to the public, to whose opinion and judgment I bow
with great reverence & respect.

“At the same time I am free to confess that had I ever
presumed to have classed the historical painters of this
country, perhaps M^{r.} Wright’s name would not have stood
exactly where he has been pleased to place it himself.

“In the line of landscape, I confess it would have been a
different consideration.

“I find it would be too tedious to go through all the
ridiculous assertions that your very extraordinary Letter
contains. I shall therefore leave you to enjoy your notions,
however unfounded, and proceed immediately to business. I
never offered you any specific price for your picture. You
asked me what I had given for pictures of that size. I told
you the prices. You knew that 300 guineas was the utmost
stipulated sum, and, in one word, Sir, I will not give you any
more.

“And this I offer, not so much for the merits of the picture,
as that you nor no man may have reason to complain of my
want of liberality. You are, indeed, the first that ever has
complained on this subject, with what justice I leave the
world to judge. When I look at the merits of the picture, it
deserves no such sum; for however excellent the landscape part
of it may be, the figures are very faulty, and so much out of
drawing, that it will give no little trouble to correct it for
the engravers.

“As to whatever prices I have given, or may hereafter give
to any artist, in this or any other undertaking, I shall
certainly not consult Mr. Wright, and his attempting to dictate
to me on this subject is perfectly ridiculous.

“I am, Sir,
“Your humble Servant,
“JOHN BOYDELL.
“Copy, J. R. Harrison.”

Notwithstanding the Alderman’s disparaging remarks, Wright painted two other Shaksperian subjects, viz.: “The Tomb Scene in Romeo & Juliet,” and another of the “Storm,” with Antigonus pursued by a bear. The former he never sold; the latter was purchased by Mr. Henry Philips.

Reference to these two pictures will be found in the following correspondence:--

“Derby, June 17^{th} 1790.
“MY DEAR FRIEND,

“I cannot stomach the application you wish me to make to him,
to come forward in my defence. Nor if I could, do I think it
would be of any use. Long, who, our friend Tate knows, is his
most intimate friend, & whose judgment he holds in the first
rank, is intimately connected with the proprietors of the
work. Therefore, there is but little room to hope he would do
anything to serve me, that would in any wise injure a work
they themselves were the first planners of.

“I am extremely obliged to you for the very flattering account
you have sent me. Things seem to work to our wishes, & the
Alderman’s conduct will, I hope, soon be completely dissected.
I much wonder that Vasari has not appeared again ere now.
Perhaps he is intimidated. There appeared an odd paragraph in
one of ye papers a few posts ago: ‘The Prince of Pick-pockets
has given instructions to his attorney to prosecute a printer
for a libel on his character.’ As yet nothing has appeared
that will come under that denomination, _I hope_.

“I would most willingly write to M^{r.} Heath respecting
plates being made from the two pictures, but I hardly know
what to propose to him; & if, on account of the Picture of
‘Romeo & Juliet,’ which has been so much decry’d, he should
have objections, it might embarrass him to decline it to
me. You have had so much trouble on my account, I really am
sorry to ask you to write a short letter to sound him in the
business; but he would be more explicit to you than me.

“J. WRIGHT.”

“MY DEAR FRIEND,

“The two pictures I exhibited last year in the R. Academy of
‘Romeo & Juliet’ and Antigonus in the ‘Storm,’ were certainly
painted too dark, sad emblems of my then gloomy mind. I
have simplified the back ground of the former, enlarged the
parts, and thrown more light into the Tomb, so that Julia is
bright without being a spot; & the picture of the ‘Storm,’ I
have near gone over the whole; rendering the parts clear &
distinct, without weakening the character of Gloominess, and,
if a man may be allowed to judge & speak of his own works,
they are much improved indeed. I wish Heath was to see ’em
now. I think he would like them, & perhaps indulge us with
plates from them. I have a strange wish to see them well
engraved as they are, though unworthy of adding to Boydell’s
collection. I intended to have exhibited them at the Lyceum,
but they[46] have quarrelled amongst themselves and don’t
make one. Do you think Macklin would hang them in his room
a month or two, for I wish to have them better seen by the
publick than they have been. I communicate this to you to
judge of, because I well know you regard both my interests
& honour. I have heard nothing from Macklin respecting my
painting for him. Tom Tate some time ago told me that Rogers,
of Liverpool, who is concerned in the work, asked him if he
thought, upon proper application being made, I would undertake
any subjects, for it was much their wishes that I should be
concerned. Macklin used me querely in his first scheme, & his
application, if he does not wish to engage me, will now come
with an ill grace.

“JO^S WRIGHT.
“St. Ellens,
“14^{th} Feby., /91.”