Sarah and Ann Haden
Artist
Joseph Wright of Derby
(British, 1734–1797)
Dateabout 1796
Mediumoil on canvas mounted on panel
Dimensionscanvas: 54 x 45.4 cm (21 1/4 x 17 7/8 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineGift of David Richardson
Object number1991.177
Label Text2005-08-26: PORTRAIT OF SARAH AND ANN HADEN, about 1795
Joseph Wright of Derby
British, 1734-1797
Oil on canvas
Gift of David Richardson, 1991.177
The daughters of a surgeon in Derby, England, the Haden twins posed for Joseph Wright of Derby toward the end of his career. Wright spent most of his life in Derby where he painted portraits of many of the early pioneers of science and industry. He is perhaps best known for his nocturnal genre scenes, which capture society's reactions to early scientific experiments.
This portrait was given to the Worcester Art Museum by David Richardson, a descendant of Ann Haden who is thought to be the dark-haired twin at the right. Ann Haden came to America with her husband, Kirk Boott, who founded the Boott Mills in Lowell, Massachusetts.
ProvenanceGifted by J. Wright to Mary Tunaley, April 30, 1976; Vose Galleries, 238 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 through 10/18/91; David Richardson, 3338 Dent Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007; Gifted to the Worcester Art Museum, 1991.On View
On view
