Artwork
The Corinthian Maid
The Corinthian Maid is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Joseph Wright of Derby. It dates from 1783 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The 1783 oil painting titled The Corinthian Maid by Joseph Wright of Derby depicts the classical figure Kora of Sicyon, a subject drawn from mythological tradition that the artist used to reference the origins of artistic practice. The work's iconography aligns with the painting's title, linking the narrative of the Corinthian maid to the depicted mythic character.
Technique & Style
The painting's dimensions and material composition are consistent with late 18th-century history painting conventions.
Joseph Wright of Derby executed The Corinthian Maid circa 1783 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 106.3 cm in height and 130.8 cm in width. The canvas support remains the foundational material for this historical piece, which depicts Kora of Sicyon.
The painting's dimensions and material composition are consistent with late 18th-century history painting conventions. The work is currently held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
The Corinthian Maid, an oil on canvas painted circa 1783 by Joseph Wright of Derby, was created as a private commission for Josiah Wedgwood. The work portrays Kora of Sicyon and measures 106.3 by 130.8 cm. Its early ownership passed from Wedgwood to John Greaves by 1831, then through Charles Meigh (sale 1850), John Bentley, Colonel W. Wright-Bemrose, A. Ralph Robotham, Gooden & Fox, and Paul Mellon, who acquired it in August 1962; the painting was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1983.
Regarding exhibition history, records indicate the piece was offered for sale under the title The Origin of Painting at the European Museum in London during private contract sales, appearing in catalogues from April 1814, April 1817, and various dates throughout 1818 and 1819.
Overview
Joseph Wright's 1783 oil painting, titled The Corinthian Maid, presents a contemplative scene on canvas. The work centers on Kora of Sicyon, a figure from classical antiquity, captured in a moment of quiet reflection. Wright employs his characteristic command of light and shadow to imbue the composition with a sense of depth and personal intimacy, inviting viewers into the subject's private world.
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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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