An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Cottage on Firec. 1786-1787
Artist: Joseph Wright of Derby
British, 1734–1797
22 7/8 x 30 in. (58.1 x 76.2 cm) (canvas)
Oil on canvas
Painting
England
18th century
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fund and bequest of Lillian Malcolm Larkin, by exchange
Under a night sky, a dramatic tableau unfolds, alive with contrasts that dance between light and shadow. A bright, hot red flame from a fire crackles and spits, illuminating the night air with fierce energy. In stark opposition, the cool, serene white glow of the moon cascades down, casting a gentle sheen over everything in its embrace. The scene depicts a cottage, stark against the backdrop of twilight, as it is engulfed in flames, its structure collapsing into chaos. Nearby, an ancient castle, worn and weary from time's relentless march, stands in quiet decay, a ghost of its former glory.
This juxtaposition of destruction and endurance is where Joseph Wright finds his inspiration. Deeply intrigued by the effects of light—its nature and its vision—Wright was a man of the Enlightenment, connected to the notable scientists of his time. They examined the mysteries of illumination, and Wright's imagination sparked like the very fires he painted.
His time in Italy between 1773 and 1775 was pivotal. Witnessing the awesome eruption of Mount Vesuvius, he was captivated not just by its raw power but the beautiful chaos of light it produced. The thrill of a dazzling fireworks display at Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome had him enthralled. It was these extraordinary encounters that ignited a passion within him, leading him to make sensational lighting the hallmark of his landscapes—the fire's blaze and the moon's glow would emerge as recurring characters in his works.
Wright's art didn't merely capture a moment; it foreshadowed the embrace of Romanticism that would wash over landscape painting in the 19th century. Themes of tragic destruction and sublime beauty would soon find a home in the hearts of artists across England and France. Yet, amid his forward-looking vision, traces of the 18th-century decorative landscape style breathe through his work—trees that twist in elegant curves, highlights that flicker like stars, and a color palette that soothes even in its simplicity.
In each stroke of his brush, he carved out a narrative, one that resonates through time, inviting viewers to not only observe but to experience the profound interplay of light, life, and decay.
About the artist
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