Artwork
A lighthouse on fire at night
A lighthouse on fire at night is an oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Created in 1796, this oil painting depicts a lighthouse ablaze against a night sky.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1796, this oil painting depicts a lighthouse ablaze against a night sky. The composition centers on the burning tower, its flames casting vivid yellows and oranges that pierce the surrounding darkness. Turbulent sea water crashes at the base, while distant hills are suggested only as faint silhouettes, emphasizing the isolated drama of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of catastrophe at sea, focusing on the lighthouse as both beacon and victim. The intense fire may symbolize the fragility of human guidance amid nature’s forces, while the surrounding darkness and stormy waves convey a sense of peril and uncertainty that heightens the emotional impact of the disaster.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a stark tenebristic approach, juxtaposing luminous fire against deep shadows to heighten visual tension.
The artist employs a stark tenebristic approach, juxtaposing luminous fire against deep shadows to heighten visual tension. Strong chiaroscuro directs attention to the illuminated tower, while the surrounding landscape recedes into muted tones. The brushwork renders the flickering light and turbulent water with a dramatic, almost theatrical quality characteristic of late‑18th‑century British landscape painting.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. It was produced by Joseph Wright of Derby, an English painter noted for his dramatic lighting effects in both portraiture and landscape. The work has remained in institutional holdings, reflecting Wright’s reputation for exploring light as a central narrative element.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Wright (3 September 1734 – 29 August 1797), styled Joseph Wright of Derby, was an English painter who specialised in portrait painting and landscape art.
