Romeo and Juliet: the Tomb Scene
Encyclopedia
Romeo and Juliet: the Tomb Scene is a painting by Joseph Wright of Derby
, completed by 1790, exhibited in 1790 and 1791, shown in the Derby Exhibition of 1839
in the Mechanics' Institute, and now displayed in Derby Museum and Art Gallery
. The painting exhibits Wright's famed skill with nocturnal and candlelit scenes. It depicts the moment in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
when Juliet, kneeling beside Romeo's body, hears a footstep and draws a dagger to kill herself. The line is "Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!"
for his "Shakespeare Gallery
". However the work was the cause of a major row between them. Wright discovered that Boydell had classified the painters he had commissioned into two classes. Wright had discovered that he was assigned to the second class. He was to be paid 300 pounds for one painting and he was aggrieved to discover that that some artists were being paid a thousand pounds. Wright's objection was more to do with the damage to his reputation than for the loss of income.
Boydell was unrepentant and although Wright's painting of Romeo and Juliet was ready in time it was his painting of The Tempest
(now lost) and a more modest scene of the storm in The Winter's Tale
that were Wright's contribution to Boydell's gallery. Wright was left with this painting which is thought the best of the three he had created for the gallery. It could be that there was another disagreement that led to James Northcote
creating a nine by eleven feet Romeo and Juliet tomb scene painting for Boydell which was very well received by gallery visitors.
Wright had the painting exhibited in the Royal Academy
in 1790 but he was not content as he said it had been badly presented due to its late arrival. However Wright felt privately that he had been snubbed by the Royal Academy and was happy to exhibit five paintings at the Society of Artists of Great Britain. Before the painting was exhibited at the Society of Artists
the following year it was reworked by Wright but it still failed to sell. The painting is also known to have been included in an exhibition at Derby's Mechanics' Institute. Wright's painting was included in a painting of the 1839 exhibition by Samuel Rayner
. Many of the paintings in Rayner's painting are thought to have come from the collection of Joseph Strutt
. Many of the other artefacts in Rayner's painting are thought to have joined the early collection of Derby Museums, but this painting took many years before it rejoined Derby Museum's collection.
As a result of Wright's argument with Boydell the painting was rejected and stayed in Wright's possession. It was at Christies in 1801 and in Derby for sale in 1810, but it failed to find a buyer. It was bought from Wright's executors and it was in the Oakes family from 1883 until it was purchased for Derby Museums for £33,250 in 1981.
at which Juliet, kneeling beside Romeo's body, hears a footstep and draws Romeo's dagger. Juliet's line is "Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" and is said just before Juliet kills herself In addition to this painting, Derby Museum also own a preparatory sketch by Wright. On the sketch he proposes the change he made to the painting where he moved the sarcophagus and its niche to the right. Wright was trying to increase the size of the image of the illuminated wall. The gladiatorial figure of Juliet with her outstretched arms attracts the eye and the heroic death of Romeo have been compared to Michelangelo
's drawing of Tityus.
Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright , styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution"....
, completed by 1790, exhibited in 1790 and 1791, shown in the Derby Exhibition of 1839
Derby Exhibition (1839)
The Derby Exhibition of 1839 was the first exhibition in Derby. It was held at the town's Mechanics' Institute, which later became known as Albert Hall. The exhibition was in line with the founding values of the Institute, which were to extend the spread of knowledge among the people of Derby...
in the Mechanics' Institute, and now displayed in Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
. The painting exhibits Wright's famed skill with nocturnal and candlelit scenes. It depicts the moment in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
when Juliet, kneeling beside Romeo's body, hears a footstep and draws a dagger to kill herself. The line is "Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!"
History
The idea for the painting came from Wright in December 1776 when he proposed a painting of "Juliet waking in the tomb". The commission was agreed by Alderman John BoydellJohn Boydell
John Boydell was an 18th-century British publisher noted for his reproductions of engravings. He helped alter the trade imbalance between Britain and France in engravings and initiated a British tradition in the art form...
for his "Shakespeare Gallery
Boydell Shakespeare Gallery
The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London, England, was the first stage of a three-part project initiated in November 1786 by engraver and publisher John Boydell in an effort to foster a school of British history painting...
". However the work was the cause of a major row between them. Wright discovered that Boydell had classified the painters he had commissioned into two classes. Wright had discovered that he was assigned to the second class. He was to be paid 300 pounds for one painting and he was aggrieved to discover that that some artists were being paid a thousand pounds. Wright's objection was more to do with the damage to his reputation than for the loss of income.
Boydell was unrepentant and although Wright's painting of Romeo and Juliet was ready in time it was his painting of The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
(now lost) and a more modest scene of the storm in The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
that were Wright's contribution to Boydell's gallery. Wright was left with this painting which is thought the best of the three he had created for the gallery. It could be that there was another disagreement that led to James Northcote
James Northcote
James Northcote RA , was an English painter.-Biography:He was born at Plymouth, and was apprenticed to his father, a poor watchmaker. In his spare time, he drew and painted. In 1769 he left his father and set up as a portrait painter. Four years later he went to London and was admitted as a pupil...
creating a nine by eleven feet Romeo and Juliet tomb scene painting for Boydell which was very well received by gallery visitors.
Wright had the painting exhibited in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1790 but he was not content as he said it had been badly presented due to its late arrival. However Wright felt privately that he had been snubbed by the Royal Academy and was happy to exhibit five paintings at the Society of Artists of Great Britain. Before the painting was exhibited at the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
the following year it was reworked by Wright but it still failed to sell. The painting is also known to have been included in an exhibition at Derby's Mechanics' Institute. Wright's painting was included in a painting of the 1839 exhibition by Samuel Rayner
Samuel Rayner
Samuel Rayner was an English landscape artist, known for his paintings of buildings and their interiors, including abbeys, churches and old mansions. He achieved the distinction of having a work accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy at only 15 years of age...
. Many of the paintings in Rayner's painting are thought to have come from the collection of Joseph Strutt
Joseph Strutt (philanthropist)
Joseph Strutt was an English philanthropist. He got his wealth from family textile business. The Strutt brothers were radical social reformers who gave significant donations and founded several important institutions in their native Derby area....
. Many of the other artefacts in Rayner's painting are thought to have joined the early collection of Derby Museums, but this painting took many years before it rejoined Derby Museum's collection.
As a result of Wright's argument with Boydell the painting was rejected and stayed in Wright's possession. It was at Christies in 1801 and in Derby for sale in 1810, but it failed to find a buyer. It was bought from Wright's executors and it was in the Oakes family from 1883 until it was purchased for Derby Museums for £33,250 in 1981.
Description
The painting is 70 inches high and 95 wide and shows Wright's famed skill with nocturnal and candlelit scenes. It depicts the moment in Shakespeare's Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
at which Juliet, kneeling beside Romeo's body, hears a footstep and draws Romeo's dagger. Juliet's line is "Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" and is said just before Juliet kills herself In addition to this painting, Derby Museum also own a preparatory sketch by Wright. On the sketch he proposes the change he made to the painting where he moved the sarcophagus and its niche to the right. Wright was trying to increase the size of the image of the illuminated wall. The gladiatorial figure of Juliet with her outstretched arms attracts the eye and the heroic death of Romeo have been compared to Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
's drawing of Tityus.