Watermark: none.
Study for Wright's unfinished painting "The Old Man and His Ass", from Sterne, present whereabouts unknown.
Wright made this impressive life study in preparation for one of several known paintings based on Laurence Sterne's 1768 novel, A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy by Mr. Yorick. In the episode depicted, the protagonist meets an old man weeping at the death of his donkey. Sitter and subject are identified in the inscription: Portrait of / John Stavely / who came from Hert- / fordshire with Mr. French / & sat to Mr. Wright in the character of the old man & his ass in the / Sentimental Journey. -- Exhibition Label, from "Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso."
Inscribed in various hands, in pen and brown ink at upper right, "Nampont", and at lower right, "Nampont / Mr. Wright of Derbys / Sterns Old Man and...[cut off] Ass The Stury"; in graphite at right, possibly in the hand of the artist, "Portrait of / John Stavely / who came from Hert- / fordshire with Mr. French / & sat to Mr. Wright in the character of the old man & his ass in the / Sentimental Journey".
Inscribed on verso in pen and brown ink at lower right, "Mr. Wright of Derby's Study for Sternes Old Man & Ass"; below in a different brown ink, "Joseph Wright / Derby".
Philips, John Leigh, former owner.
Mellon, Paul, former owner.
Sterne, Laurence, 1713-1768. Sentimental journey through France and Italy.
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Eighteenth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975-1977. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1978, p. 297.
Benedict Nicolson, Joseph Wright of Derby; Painter of Light, 1968, 247, under no. 241.