Previously unknown Joseph Wright portrait unveiled at museum

A previously unknown portrait by internationally renowned artist Joseph Wright of Derby has been unveiled at Derby Museums’ Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

The portrait, which depicts Wright’s friend, the musician and composer Edward Miller, was discovered last year by the Hall family while sorting through the belongings of a late relative at a home on the Scottish Borders.

Among over 20 family portraits, there were three whose identities were a mystery to the family.

One bore a simple inscription on the reverse: ‘Wright’. A single clue to the mysterious identity of the artist.

Joy Hall, who first contacted Derby Museums about the discovery, told how the family had initially considered selling the Wright painting for the value of its frame, until the exceptional quality of one of the works caught her attention.

Derby Museums’ senior curator of art and the Joseph Wright Collection, Lucy Bamford, worked in partnership with art historian Dr Martin Postle and researcher Dr Stephen Leach to authenticate the portrait.

The sitter was identified as Dr Edward Miller, a prominent composer who in his youth played flute in the orchestra of the famous German composer George Frederic Handel.

Lucy said: “It was quite the surprise when I opened my emails one morning to find one from Joy Hall offering us a suspected Wright portrait.

“We are thrilled that Miller’s descendant, Susannah Stewart, could join us to unveil the works and give us an insight into the history of the sitters.”

Two further portraits were gifted alongside the Wright: one of Miller’s granddaughter Ann Miller, and the other her husband, the wealthy Derbyshire lead merchant Joseph Wass.

Tony Butler, executive director at Derby Museums, said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive these three portraits into Derby Museums’ collections.

“I would like to thank the Hall family for their generosity in gifting these works, and Robert Shields DL, Longcliffe Quarries Ltd whose support covered the cost of transportation and packing.

“Donors and the public put their trust in us as a museum to care for these wonderful objects and works of art.

“We look forward to continuing to carry out research and uncovering new stories to help us understand the significance of these wonderful paintings to our city and the nation.

“It was only a couple of weeks ago that we opened our exhibition Joseph Wright: Life on Paper and this is another fantastic moment in our Year of Wright, as we continue to lead the study and promotion of this most influential and versatile of British artists.”

The newly discovered portraits are now part of Derby Museums’ permanent collection.

Edward Miller is on display in the Joseph Wright Gallery, while the two Wass portraits will be displayed at the Museum of Making in due course.