Joseph Wright of Derby, A.R.A.

John Gilbert Crompton (1819-1913) of Flower Lilies, Windley, Derbyshire;
Anonymous sale, Sotheby's London, 30th November 2000, lot 3

Derby Corporation Art Gallery, Catalogue of Paintings by Wright of Derby, 1883, no 88 (lent by J.G. Crompton)

Probably B. Nicholson, Joseph Wright of Derby, 1968, vol. I, p. 214 ('Miss Mundy' Listed amongst sitters at Derby, circa 1760)

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. There is an old, discoloured dirty varnish overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some very minor strengthening to lines of craquelure in the upper right. There is an opaque varnish with an even layer of dirt overall. FRAME Held in a carved and gilded wooden frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This fine portrait dates from the early 1760's, at the time when the sitter's brother Francis Mundy, inherited Markeaton Hall near Derby. The Mundy family were important early patrons of Joseph Wright, and Francis Mundy was one of the six members of the Markeaton Hunt whose portraits by Wright hung at Markeaton Hall until 1936. He also commissioned Wright to paint his two sons (sold in these rooms on 9^th June 1998, lot 9).

Millicent Mundy was the daughter of Wrightson Mundy, High Sheriff of Derbyshire and M.P. for Leicestershire, and his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Burdett of Bramcote. The Mundy family had been a prominent Derbyshire family for two hundred years, John Mundy a former Lord Mayor of London, having bought their estate at Markeaton in 1516. Wrightson Mundy was a man of considerable literary taste. A friend of Addison, Steele and Swift, he was also responsible for the rebuilding of Markeaton Hall, set in a fine one hundred acre park. Millicent shared her father's literary interests and was a friend of the famous poet William Hayley, who wrote on her death: '[Mrs French] has an interesting tenderness of character, like the painting of Corregio'. Erasmus Darwin was also an admirer an included a flattering obituary of her in his Botanic Garden. In 1766 she married Captain French, a cornet in the Royal Horseguards at the time; he was later promoted to lieutenant in 1773. Described as a 'good friend' by Wright in a letter to his sister from Rome on the 13^th April 1774, French's portrait by Wright of c.1777-80 was one of a number that passed from the Mundy family to a cousin some of which were sold at Christie's on 19^th November 1965.

The portrait draws on Wright's experience with Hudson, and can be compared with his portrait of Anne Carver of 1760 [i], where he has included both ostrich plumes, and a 'Van Dyck' type high crowned hat and ruched sleeves gathered with a pink bows. The portrait is also influenced by the portrait of Suzanne Fourment by Rubens (National Gallery).

i. cf. B. Nicholson, lit.op.cit, 1968, vol. II, pl. 22