Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734–1797, British, active in Italy (1773–75)
Title:
Portrait of a Man, Known as the "Indian Captain"
Date:
ca. 1767
Materials & Techniques:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
90 1/4 x 54 1/2 inches (229.2 x 138.4 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1981.25.713
Gallery Label:
The identity of the sitter in this enigmatic portrait is unknown. Some think he is the “Indian Captain” that Joseph Wright of Derby exhibited in 1767, but the turban and costume are fanciful, not the uniform of an East Indian Company officer. Whoever he is, the background ships imply an imminent departure, and the lingering look over his shoulder suggests a reluctance to leave. These elements suggest that the portrait was commissioned to mark a significant moment in the sitter’s life. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2016
