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Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery is fortunate to have in its collection three beautiful oil paintings by one of the most famous English artists of the eighteenth century, Joseph Wright of Derby. They are portraits of William Brooke and Elizabeth and William Pigot. Like his father-in-law William Brooke, William Pigot was a dealer in cloth, and this portrait is notable for the fine costume. The blue velvet suit, which would have been at the height of fashion when the portrait was painted, is trimmed with gold and brocade, while the jacket falls open revealing its satin lining, as well as the heavily brocaded waistcoat. William’s pose is deliberately casual. The way in which he leans against the carved table leg, while toying with the beautiful lacquered box in his left hand, suggests a gentleman of means, with time to spare to indulge his pleasures.
All three portraits by Wright are also notable for their frames, which are original to the pictures. Made by the Huguenot frame maker John Duborg, they are constructed from carved and pierced wood with re-cut gesso detail. The curved outer rails are pierced with rocaille (shell-like) centres and leaf scrolls at the corners, with cross-hatched panels at the corners.
Title
William Pigot (1729–1782)
Date
1760
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 127 x W 102 cm
Accession number
DONMG : 1999.8
Acquisition method
purchased from Mallett and Son, 1999
Work type
Painting