Portrait of a Woman

Joseph Wright of Derby painted this portrait of a woman around 1770, during the period when he was dividing his time between Derby and London. Wright is best known for his dramatic candlelight scenes of scientific experiments, but portraiture was the financial foundation of his career. His sitters included the industrialists, scientists, and members of the Lunar Society who were driving the English Midlands' role in the Industrial Revolution.

Wright's portrait technique combines the smooth finish of the English portrait tradition with his distinctive sensitivity to light effects. The flesh tones are carefully modeled with warm, luminous glazes, while the costume is rendered with the precise observation of materials that characterizes his work.