Virgil's Tomb (Joseph Wright paintings)
Encyclopedia
Virgil's Tomb is the title of at least three paintings completed by Joseph Wright of Derby
between 1779 and 1785.
tour undertaken in 1773-1775. These three depict the ruined structure near Naples
that was traditionally identified as the tomb of the Latin
epic poet Virgil
. The earliest of the three, dated to 1779, includes the figure of Silius Italicus
, a slightly later poet known to have been an admirer of Virgil.
Siliacus Italicus owned the tomb and its surroundings and organized pilgrimages for other admirers of the poet.
In total, Wright used the subject in seven paintings. He sent one of the paintings to poet William Hayley
who returned the favour by writing Ode to Mr Wright of Derby.
Unlike Wright's paintings of candlelit scenes, the views of Virgil's tomb
are "flooded with oppressive lunar light". They reflect from a stage of Wright's artistic development when "he held a delicate balance between what actually was there, and what he liked to construct out of what was there" .
. When she died it went to Thomas Brightwall. Another of the paintings was reputedly in the possession of Rev. Thomas Gisborne who Wright visited in his estate near Needwood Forest
. This painting was owned by the Barton Blount estates in 1968 and by 1981 it was sold by Miss Ward to Derby Museum and Art Gallery for £12,000. The picture with Scilius Italicus in Derby Museum is, according to Benedict Nicolson
, not necessarily by Wright.
Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright , styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution"....
between 1779 and 1785.
Description
The subject of these paintings is a fruit of his Wright's ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
tour undertaken in 1773-1775. These three depict the ruined structure near Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
that was traditionally identified as the tomb of the Latin
Latin literature
Latin literature includes the essays, histories, poems, plays, and other writings of the ancient Romans. In many ways, it seems to be a continuation of Greek literature, using many of the same forms...
epic poet Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
. The earliest of the three, dated to 1779, includes the figure of Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus, in full Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus , was a Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet of the 1st century CE,...
, a slightly later poet known to have been an admirer of Virgil.
Siliacus Italicus owned the tomb and its surroundings and organized pilgrimages for other admirers of the poet.
In total, Wright used the subject in seven paintings. He sent one of the paintings to poet William Hayley
William Hayley
William Hayley was an English writer, best known as the friend and biographer of William Cowper.-Biography:...
who returned the favour by writing Ode to Mr Wright of Derby.
Unlike Wright's paintings of candlelit scenes, the views of Virgil's tomb
Virgil's tomb
Virgil's tomb is a Roman burial vault dating back to the Augustan age, located in Naples, southern Italy. It is found at the entrance to the old Roman tunnel known as the grotta vecchia or cripta napoletana in the Parco Virgiliano in the Piedigrotta district of the city.Virgil's tomb is located on...
are "flooded with oppressive lunar light". They reflect from a stage of Wright's artistic development when "he held a delicate balance between what actually was there, and what he liked to construct out of what was there" .
Provenance
One of the paintings was given to William Hayley who gave it to the artist Amelia OpieAmelia Opie
Amelia Opie, née Alderson , was an English author who published numerous novels in the Romantic Period of the early 19th century, through 1828.-Life and work:...
. When she died it went to Thomas Brightwall. Another of the paintings was reputedly in the possession of Rev. Thomas Gisborne who Wright visited in his estate near Needwood Forest
Needwood Forest
Needwood Forest was a large area of ancient woodland in Staffordshire which was largely lost at the end of the 18th century.-History:Needwood Forest was a chase or royal forest given to Henry III's son Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster, in 1266...
. This painting was owned by the Barton Blount estates in 1968 and by 1981 it was sold by Miss Ward to Derby Museum and Art Gallery for £12,000. The picture with Scilius Italicus in Derby Museum is, according to Benedict Nicolson
Benedict Nicolson
Benedict Nicolson, MVO was a British art historian and author.Nicolson was the elder son of authors Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West and the brother of writer and politician Nigel...
, not necessarily by Wright.