Skip to content

Joseph Wright masterpieces reunited after 80 years

Elise ChamberlainEast Midlands
BBC A painting by Derby Artist Joseph Wright features a group of people lit by candelight looking at an experiment on a bird in an air pump. BBC
Joseph Wright's An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768) is internationally famous

Two of revered artist Joseph Wright's most celebrated works are being reunited in his hometown of Derby for the first time in 80 years.

The pieces sit at the heart of a new exhibition at Derby Museum & Art Gallery celebrating his famous candlelight paintings, fresh from being displayed at the National Gallery in London.

Derby Museums has also launched a self-guided tour across the city highlighting places that inspired the artist throughout his life.

Lucy Bamford, the body's senior curator for art, said: "These paintings are among the most powerful, unforgettable images of British art. Seeing them reunited in Derby - where Wright's story began - is a rare and inspiring experience."

A woman smiles into the camera whilst standing in front of a painting which features dimly lit people.
Lucy Bamford says she hopes visitors share her team's view that Joseph Wright is one of the world's greatest artists

Joseph Wright: From the Shadows is the world's first exhibition dedicated to Wright's famous candlelight paintings.

It brings together 21 paintings from Derby Museums' Wright collection alongside the return of An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768), which has been loaned from the National Gallery in London where it went on display in November 2025.

It is being showcased next to the museum's own Wright masterpiece, A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery in which a Lamp is put in the Place of the Sun (1766) - the first time they have been seen together in Derby since 1947.

Bamford said: "From the Shadows in Derby offers both local and national audiences the chance to take a closer look at Wright's extraordinary mastery of light, drama, and human emotion in this landmark touring exhibition."

The picture features a painting of a group of people studying a contraption exploring the solar system.
Wright's A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766) is owned by the museum

The exhibition also features two 17th Century Dutch candlelight paintings to explore Wright's wider influences along with his rarely-seen 1769 painting, An Academy by Lamplight

The celebration marks the finale of Derby's Year of Wright.

Tony Butler, executive director of Derby Museums, said: "It is a celebration not only of Joseph Wright's legacy but of the city that shaped one of Britain's most original artistic voices.

"Our Year of Wright finale will show that there is no Wright without Derby."

A sculpture of a woman looking towards the floor in a glass case is pictured to the side of a Joseph Wright painting which is lit up.
The exhibition at Derby Museum and Art Gallery includes sculptures and other items featured in the paintings.

The self-guided tour, which features 14 stops around the city of Derby, includes some its most famous buildings, such as Derby Cathedral, where Joseph Wright's grave marker can be found.

Other stops are more personal like Full Street, where his eldest brother lived.

A man smiles in to the camera in front of the Derby Museum of Making.
Dr Alex Rock from Derby Museums and Art Gallery says people need to visit Derby to fully understand Joseph Wright.

Dr Alex Rock, director of commercial and operations for the museum, added: "There is so much of Joseph Wright's Derby market town left in Derby that what this becomes is a celebration of who he is, his craft."

The exhibition is free to enter and is on until November.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

More on this story
Related internet links