Miravan
Encyclopedia
Miravan Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors is a painting by Joseph Wright of Derby
originally completed in 1772 .
ever possessed" is within. The painting shows the revulsion of Miravan and his anguish when he realises that he has been tricked. His ancestor says that Miravan will not enjoy eternal repose as he has disturbed one of his progenitors.
The story of Miravan as explained by Joseph Wright comes from John Gilbert Cooper
's Letters Concerning Taste which was published in 1755. Though Cooper claims that the story is Persian, no original source is known.
Joseph Wright was known for his studies under unusual lighting; this painting combines this characteristic with a style that has been called Neo-Gothic which Wright also used in his painting A Philosopher by Lamplight
, also known as Democritus
studying anatomy. These two paintings also show the artist's familiarity with human anatomy.
and like many of Wright's paintings its strong dark and light areas made it ideal for a mezzotint
. In this case the view is lit by a single oil light supplemented by moonlight. The painting was bought in Wright's lifetime by Mr Milne (who may have been from Wakefield). It came into the possession of Derby Museum and Art Gallery
in 1935 after being acquired from private ownership thanks to UK National funding.
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"....
originally completed in 1772 .
Description
The painting was titled Miravan Breaking Open the Tomb of his Ancestors and it shows a Persian nobleman, Miravan, who has discovered one of his ancestor's tombs. Driven by greed he orders that the tomb be broken open after he sees that the tomb's inscription claims that a "greater treasure than CroesusCroesus
Croesus was the king of Lydia from 560 to 547 BC until his defeat by the Persians. The fall of Croesus made a profound impact on the Hellenes, providing a fixed point in their calendar. "By the fifth century at least," J.A.S...
ever possessed" is within. The painting shows the revulsion of Miravan and his anguish when he realises that he has been tricked. His ancestor says that Miravan will not enjoy eternal repose as he has disturbed one of his progenitors.
The story of Miravan as explained by Joseph Wright comes from John Gilbert Cooper
John Gilbert Cooper
John Gilbert Cooper or John Gilbert was a British poet and writer.-Biography:John Gilbert was born in Lockington, Leicestershire. His father was left a legacy which included Thurgarton Priory which he was allowed if he changed his name to Cooper...
's Letters Concerning Taste which was published in 1755. Though Cooper claims that the story is Persian, no original source is known.
Joseph Wright was known for his studies under unusual lighting; this painting combines this characteristic with a style that has been called Neo-Gothic which Wright also used in his painting A Philosopher by Lamplight
A Philosopher by Lamplight
A Philosopher by lamplight is a painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. It is not known when Wright painted the picture, but it was first exhibited in 1769 in London with the Society of Artists...
, also known as Democritus
Democritus
Democritus was an Ancient Greek philosopher born in Abdera, Thrace, Greece. He was an influential pre-Socratic philosopher and pupil of Leucippus, who formulated an atomic theory for the cosmos....
studying anatomy. These two paintings also show the artist's familiarity with human anatomy.
History
The painting was engraved in 1772 by Valentine GreenValentine Green
Valentine Green was a British engraver.-Biography:Born in Salford Priors, he was placed by his father in a solicitor's office at Evesham, where he remained for two years; but ultimately he decided, on his own responsibility, to abandon the legal profession and became a pupil of a line engraver at...
and like many of Wright's paintings its strong dark and light areas made it ideal for a mezzotint
Mezzotint
Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...
. In this case the view is lit by a single oil light supplemented by moonlight. The painting was bought in Wright's lifetime by Mr Milne (who may have been from Wakefield). It came into the possession of 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...
in 1935 after being acquired from private ownership thanks to UK National funding.