Long lost Joseph Wright painting discovery in Scottish Borders gifted to Derby Museums
The newly discovered portraits are now part of Derby Museums’ permanent collection.
A previously unknown portrait by internationally renowned artist Joseph Wright of Derby has been unveiled at Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
The portrait which depicts Wright’s friend, the musician and composer Edward Miller, was discovered in 2024 by the Hall family while sorting through the belongings of a late relative at a home on the Scottish Borders.
The find has been described by family members as a “treasure trove of antiques”.
Among over 20 family portraits, there were three whose identities were a mystery to the family.
One bore a simple inscription on the reverse, ‘Wright’ which was a single clue to the mysterious identity of the artist.
Joy Hall, who first contacted Derby Museums about the discovery, told how the family had initially considered selling the Wright painting for the value of its frame, until the exceptional quality of one of the works caught her attention.
Struck by the detail of the lacework and tassels, reminiscent of Wright’s early self-portrait in Van Dyck dress – also found at Derby Museum and Art Gallery – Hall began researching the artist.
It was here she stumbled upon Joseph Wright of Derby.
Derby Museums’ Senior Curator of Art and the Joseph Wright Collection, Lucy Bamford, worked in partnership with Dr Martin Postle and Dr Stephen Leach to authenticate the portrait.
Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Art and the Joseph Wright Collection at Derby Museums, said: “It was quite the surprise to find an email from Joy Hall offering us a suspected Wright portrait.
“We are thrilled that Miller’s descendant, Susannah Stewart, could join us to unveil the works and give us an insight into the history of the sitters.”
Two further portraits were gifted alongside the Wright: one of Miller’s granddaughter Ann Miller, and the other her husband, the wealthy Derbyshire lead merchant Joseph Wass. Their home was Lea Green, a large mansion near Matlock, which they built in 1839.
Tony Butler, Executive Director at Derby Museums, said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive these three portraits into Derby Museums’ collections.
“I would like to thank the Hall family for their generosity in gifting these works, and Robert Shields DL, Longcliffe Quarries Ltd whose support covered the cost of transportation and packing.”
Despite a decade of financial challenges, Derby Museums continues to expand its collections of art.
Since 2012, it has acquired landscapes, portraits and fancy pieces by Wright through gift, loan or grant funded purchase.
Joy Hall, who coordinated the donation and whose husband is the five times great grandson of Edward Miller, said: “We are so happy to think that local people will be able to enjoy the paintings.”
The newly discovered portraits are now part of Derby Museums’ permanent collection.