Studio of Joseph Wright of Derby (British, 1734-1797)Group portrait of Richard Arkwright Junior and his wife, Mary Arkwright with their child, full-length, standing and seated in a landscape Oil on canvas 244 x 157.5cm (96 1/16 x 62in).FootnotesThe present composition is derived from the prime version by Joseph Wright of Derby, which is dated 1790 and by the 12th December of that year had been delivered and hung as a pendant to that of Sir Richard Arkwright (see Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby, no. 325, when in the collection of Col. Peter Arkwright, and now in the Derby City Art Gallery). In 1796 Richard Arkwright Junior moved into Willersley Castle, Derbyshire, the beautiful mansion which his father had built but never occupied. Arkwright planted some 350,000 trees on the estate and opened its gardens for public enjoyment. Pineapples, melons, and peaches flourished in his hothouses, and from 1806 he was able to grow winter grapes, cultivated by a method which earned him the Horticultural Society's gold medal in 1822. In his political views Arkwright was decidedly conservative, but he always gave serious consideration to matters before expressing an opinion, and he declined suggestions that he should seek election to parliament. Four days after suffering a stroke, he died at Willersley Castle on 23 April 1843. His estate was declared at 'over £1,000,000' and was believed to be the richest commoner in England (as was his father before him). Apart from small gifts to servants and local hospitals, the estate was divided among his children. His character was summarized by an obituarist in the Gentleman's Magazine as 'generous without ostentation and charitable without parade'.
Studio of Joseph Wright of Derby (British, 1734-1797)Group portrait of Richard Arkwright Junior and his wife, Mary Arkwright with their child, full-length, standing and seated in a landscape Oil on canvas 244 x 157.5cm (96 1/16 x 62in).FootnotesThe present composition is derived from the prime version by Joseph Wright of Derby, which is dated 1790 and by the 12th December of that year had been delivered and hung as a pendant to that of Sir Richard Arkwright (see Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby, no. 325, when in the collection of Col. Peter Arkwright, and now in the Derby City Art Gallery). In 1796 Richard Arkwright Junior moved into Willersley Castle, Derbyshire, the beautiful mansion which his father had built but never occupied. Arkwright planted some 350,000 trees on the estate and opened its gardens for public enjoyment. Pineapples, melons, and peaches flourished in his hothouses, and from 1806 he was able to grow winter grapes, cultivated by a method which earned him the Horticultural Society's gold medal in 1822. In his political views Arkwright was decidedly conservative, but he always gave serious consideration to matters before expressing an opinion, and he declined suggestions that he should seek election to parliament. Four days after suffering a stroke, he died at Willersley Castle on 23 April 1843. His estate was declared at 'over £1,000,000' and was believed to be the richest commoner in England (as was his father before him). Apart from small gifts to servants and local hospitals, the estate was divided among his children. His character was summarized by an obituarist in the Gentleman's Magazine as 'generous without ostentation and charitable without parade'.
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