Portrait of a Woman c. 1770

Joseph Wright of Derby painted this portrait of an unknown woman in England during the late 18th century. She's captured in a moment of refined leisure, a silk dress draped elegantly around her as she sits with a palette in one hand and a delicate bag in the other. Wright was a master of light and shadow, yet the true brilliance of this piece lies in its ability to speak about the social structures of its time. It's a moment of England's burgeoning middle class, who had the economic means to commission such portraits. The art world then was dominated by institutions like the Royal Academy. Wright, although a member, often worked outside its confines, catering to a provincial clientele. As art historians, we can delve into the archives of the time, tracing the networks of patronage and exhibition, to better understand the relationship between art, artist, and society.