Derby Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids
The 1964 extension to the original building houses the museum and art gallery in 2008
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1879 |
|---|---|
| Location | The Strand, Derby, England |
| Collections | Joseph Wright paintings |
| Owner | Derby City Council (managed by Derby Museums) |
The Derby Museum and Art Gallery is a museum and art gallery located in Derby, England. It first opened its doors in 1879. The museum shares a building that was designed by Richard Knill Freeman. This building was a gift to Derby from Michael Thomas Bass.
The museum is famous for its large collection of paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby. It also has many pieces of Royal Crown Derby porcelain. You can also see displays about archaeology, nature, geology, military history, and cultures from around the world. The Art Gallery section officially opened in 1882.
Contents
History of the Museum
The museum started as the Derby Town and County Museum and Natural History Society. This group formed on February 10, 1836. It was a private club, funded by its members. The first collections came from donations, including items from Dr. Forrester.
Early supporters included William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. The president was Sir George Crewe, who loved nature. Col. George Gawler gave the museum minerals and stuffed birds. These included an albatross from his time as governor in South Australia.
In 1839, a big exhibition showed many items. Some of these came from Joseph Strutt's collection. Many of these items later became part of the Derby Museum. The society moved to the Athenaeum in Victoria Street in 1840.
In 1856, the museum's collections had grown a lot. William Mundy offered to give them to the town of Derby. However, the town said no at that time.
In 1857, Llewellyn Jewitt became the secretary. The museum then started opening to the public on Saturday mornings. The Derby Philosophical Society joined with the museum society in 1858. They moved to a house on the Wardwick. This move brought a library of 4,000 books, scientific tools, and fossil collections.
In 1863, Alexander Croall became the first Librarian and Curator. The museum and library officially joined together the next year. Croall left in 1875 to work at the Smith Institute in Stirling.
The Derby Town and County Museum finally became part of the Derby Corporation in 1870. But it was hard to find space to show everything. After three years of storage, the museum opened to the public on June 28, 1879. The Art Gallery opened in 1882. By 1883, the museum even had electricity for new lighting.
In 1936, Alfred E. Goodey gave the museum a large art collection. He had been collecting art for 50 years. When he passed away in 1945, he left money to build an extension. This new part, which now holds the museum, was finished in 1964. Parts of the museum were updated in 2010 and 2011.
In 2012, over 1,000 items were stolen from the museum's storage. These items included old coins, medals, and watches. Some of the stolen items were later found.
Derby and the Enlightenment
Derby was an important place during the 1700s. This was the time of the Enlightenment. During this period, new ideas in science and philosophy became very popular. People started to question old beliefs, like the idea that kings had a "divine right" to rule.
The English Midlands, where Derby is, was a hub for thinkers. Many important scientists and business leaders met there. The Lunar Society was a famous group. Its members included Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin), Matthew Boulton, Joseph Priestley, and Josiah Wedgwood. Benjamin Franklin also corresponded with them from America. Erasmus Darwin started the Derby Philosophical Society when he moved to Derby in 1783.
Many paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby show members of the Lunar Society. Wright's paintings are known for their amazing use of light and shadow. The Derby Gallery has over 300 sketches and 34 oil paintings by Wright.
One famous painting is The Alchymist in Search of the Philosopher's Stone (1771). It shows the discovery of phosphorus by a German alchemist named Hennig Brand in 1669. In the painting, a flask glows brightly. This happens as phosphorus, which is found in urine, lights up when exposed to air.
Another key painting is A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery. It shows an early machine called an orrery. This machine demonstrated how planets move around the Sun. The Scottish scientist James Ferguson gave lectures in Derby in 1762. He used machines like the orrery to explain his ideas. Wright might have attended Ferguson's lecture. He could also have learned about the orrery from his neighbor, John Whitehurst, who was a clockmaker and scientist.
Meaning of Joseph Wright's Paintings
Joseph Wright's paintings are not just factual. They also have deeper meanings. For example, the glowing phosphorus in The Alchemist can show the shift from religious faith to scientific understanding. The worried faces in An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump might show concerns about science becoming too cold or uncaring.
These paintings show a peak in scientific discovery. This period began to change the power of religion in Western societies. Later, some scientists faced challenges or dangers. This happened after the French Revolution of 1789, which was influenced by Enlightenment ideas.
For example, Joseph Priestley, who discovered oxygen, had to leave Britain. His laboratory was destroyed and his house burned down in 1791. This was because he supported the French Revolution. In France, his colleague Lavoisier was executed.
The politician Edmund Burke linked scientists like Priestley to the French Revolution. He wrote that some people treated humans like "mice in an air pump" in their experiments. Wright's painting of the bird in the air pump, painted years earlier, seems to predict these ideas.
Because of these connections to science and the changes it brought, the Derby Museum and Art Gallery is very important. It's not just a place with nice paintings. It's in a city that played a big role in the start of modern science and industry worldwide. Some people even call Birmingham, with its science and industry, the "silicon valley" of the 1700s.
Wright of Derby's Importance
In 2011, Derby City Council decided to use Joseph Wright of Derby to help brand the city. This means they wanted to use his name and art to represent Derby. At the same time, the Museum announced it was working with Wikipedia. They wanted to make their information better.
In February 2011, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) gave the Derby Museum special "Designated status." This was for its very important collection of paintings and drawings by Joseph Wright.
Bonnie Prince Charlie Room
The museum has a special room that looks like the one where Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, held a meeting in 1745. He was on his way to try and take the British crown.
The wooden panels in this room are from the original Exeter House. That house was torn down in 1854. The panels were brought to the museum. Other related items were then donated. Even Queen Victoria gave an original letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie from her own collection.
Other Artists
Besides the large collection by Joseph Wright, the museum also has works by other artists. These include Benjamin West, E. E. Clark, Robert Priseman, Harold Gresley, Alfred John Keene, Georg Holtzendorff, David Payne, George and William Lakin Turner, Ernest Townsend, and Samuel and Louise Rayner.
Soldier's Story Gallery
The Soldier's Story gallery tells the history of several military groups. These include the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, the Sherwood Foresters, and the Derbyshire Yeomanry.
Wider Collection
The museum has a piece of a cross from Repton. It shows a carved image of a man on horseback. Some people think this figure might be a memorial to King Æthelbald of Mercia. The figure wears armor and holds a sword and shield. He also has a crown on his head.
King Æthelbald was killed in 757 and buried in Repton. If this carving is him, it would be the oldest large picture of an English king.
The museum also has a big collection of items from the Bretby Art Pottery.
See also
