This catalog accompanies the 2025 exhibition at the National Gallery, London, and explores the atmospheric candlelight paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797). Renowned for his dramatic use of light and shadow, Wright created a series of works between 1765 and 1773 that reflect Enlightenment-era fascination with science, skepticism, and human emotion.
This compact yet richly illustrated exhibition catalog features about 60 color images and essays by Christine Riding and Jon King, offering new insights into Wright’s artistic vision. It centers on masterpieces such as An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump and A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery, while also examining related mezzotints, scientific instruments, and aesthetic debates of the period.
The catalog highlights Wright’s engagement with themes of death, curiosity, and the sublime, positioning him as a key figure in European painting and intellectual history. Ideal for readers interested in British art, chiaroscuro technique, and the visual culture of the Age of Enlightenment.
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