Artwork
The Hon. Richard Fitzwilliam, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion
The Hon. Richard Fitzwilliam, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion is an oil painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum. The oil portrait, executed in 1764, presents Richard FitzWilliam, the seventh Viscount FitzWilliam, in formal attire.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown wearing a collar, jacket, button, and dress shirt, presenting a standard aristocratic appearance typical of the genre.
The work is a formal portrait depicting the Hon. Richard Fitzwilliam, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion, painted in 1764 by Joseph Wright of Derby. The subject is shown wearing a collar, jacket, button, and dress shirt, presenting a standard aristocratic appearance typical of the genre. As a portrait, the painting's primary function is to record the likeness and status of the sitter rather than to convey complex allegorical narratives or hidden symbolism.
The visual focus remains entirely on the individual, capturing his physical presence and attire without additional iconographic elements described in the available records.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1764, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas measuring 74.9 by 62.2 cm. The work depicts the sitter wearing a jacket, dress shirt, and collar, with specific attention rendered to details such as buttons. As a formal portrait by Joseph Wright of Derby, the composition focuses on the upper body of the subject, utilizing the oil medium to capture the textures of the clothing and the features of the Viscount.
History & Provenance
Joseph Wright of Derby painted this portrait of the Hon. Richard Fitzwilliam, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion in 1764. The work entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection as a gift from the Reverend Robert Fitzwilliam Halifax in 1819. It remains part of the museum’s holdings, reflecting a continuous ownership chain from the sitter’s family to the museum.
The painting is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it is recorded under accession number 1. It entered the museum in 1819 as a gift from the Reverend Robert Fitzwilliam Halifax. The work has been displayed in exhibitions devoted to Joseph Wright of Derby and to portraiture at the museum, including a 2018 retrospective of the artist's output.
Overview
The oil portrait, executed in 1764, presents Richard FitzWilliam, the seventh Viscount FitzWilliam, in formal attire. He stands before a darkened backdrop, his gaze directed outward, conveying a composed seriousness. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s status through detailed rendering of his clothing and the stark contrast between light and shadow.
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.
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