National Gallery masterpiece returns to Derby for a long-awaited Joseph Wright reunion

In June 2026, two of Joseph Wright of Derby’s most celebrated masterpieces will be reunited in the artist’s hometown for the first time in 80 years—forming the centrepiece of a new exhibition.

Opening at Derby Museum & Art Gallery on 13 June 2026, Joseph Wright: From the Shadows is the world’s first exhibition dedicated to Wright’s famous candlelight paintings. Free to the public in Derby, the exhibition brings together twenty-one items from Derby Museums’ internationally significant Wright collection alongside the return of An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768) on loan from The National Gallery, London.

Displayed next to Derby’s own A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery in which a Lamp is put in the Place of the Sun (1766), the pairing reunites two of the most iconic images in British art—seen together in Derby now for the first time since 1947.

Widely regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative painters of the 18^th century, Wright’s paintings capture dramas of spectatorship and learning; when science is theatre, discovery is spectacle, and human curiosity is at its most profound. Here, we see demonstrations of the workings of the Solar System and the properties of air and its importance to life.

Two 17^th-century Dutch candlelight paintings, The Concert by Hendrick ter Brugghen and A Man Offering Gold and Coins to a Girl by Godfried Schalcken, now also join the show on loan from the National Gallery, to explore Wright’s wider influences for the first time. Wright’s rarely seen An Academy by Lamplight (1769, private collection) will also join, supported by the National Gallery Trust. The exhibition loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.

The paintings’ return to Derby—where Wright was born and built his career—marks a significant cultural moment for the UK’s summer arts calendar.

The exhibition follows an acclaimed ticketed presentation at The National Gallery in 2025, before arriving in Derby for its final, uniquely meaningful chapter.

Alongside the exhibition, Derby Museums will launch a city-wide celebration of Wright’s legacy, including a new self-guided trail through places connected to the artist’s life and work, as well as partnerships with local businesses to welcome visitors exploring Derby as a summer cultural destination. The celebration marks the finale of Derby’s Year of Wright, which began with the exhibition Life on Paper exploring the artist’s lifelong love of drawing.

Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator for Art at Derby Museums, said:

“These paintings are among the most powerful. They are unforgettable images of British art. Seeing them reunited in Derby—where Wright’s story began—is a rare and inspiring experience.

From the Shadows in Derby offers both local and national audiences the chance to take a closer look at Wright’s extraordinary mastery of light, drama, and human emotion in this landmark touring exhibition”.

Tony Butler, Executive Director of Derby Museums, said:

“This exhibition places Derby at the centre of one of the most significant cultural moments of summer 2026. It is a celebration not only of Joseph Wright’s legacy but of the city that shaped one of Britain’s most original artistic voices. Our Year of Wright finale will show that there is no Wright without Derby.”

Derby Museums is grateful to its generous supporters who have made this exhibition possible: the government’s Museum Renewal Fund via The Weston Loan programme, Arts Council England, the National Gallery Trust, organised by Garfield Weston with Art Fund, The Ampersand Foundation, as well as a small number of individual supporters.

Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said:

“The Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, currently celebrating its tenth year, is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow art and artefacts from national collections. We are delighted that it is supporting the display of these important works in Derby, as part of this timely exploration of Joseph Wright’s candlelight paintings.”

Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said:

“Derby is known for its rich heritage of making, and this history is captured by Joseph Wright in his many and varied works of art. It’s great to be supporting Derby Museums in celebrating the ‘Year of Wright’ through the Museums Renewal Fund, encouraging national audiences to discover one of Britain’s most important artists in his hometown of Derby.”

The Trustees of the National Gallery Trust said:

“The National Gallery Trust is delighted to support From the Shadows in Derby with marketing and loan costs, enabling a rarely seen version of Academy by Lamplight to travel to Derby”

Flor Souto, CEO of The Ampersand Foundation said:

“At The Ampersand Foundation, we are proud to support Derby Museums in reuniting some of Joseph Wright’s most celebrated works in the artist’s hometown. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity for audiences to experience these remarkable paintings together, and we are pleased to help bring its design to life.”

Joseph Wright: From the Shadows runs from 13 June to 1 November 2026 at Derby Museum & Art Gallery. It is curated by Christine Riding at the National Gallery and Lucy Bamford at Derby Museums. Admission is free.