Focus on this artwork and discuss the Other Versions.
Later versions which involve a forge rather than a blacksmith's more traditional way of working are now in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and in The Tate in London. In these the main figure is working with a power forge whilst he is observed by his family. The nocturnal nature of Wright's "night pieces" was different to his contemporaries. The real novelty was however in the subject matter. Water-powered forges were not new, but Wright was being innovative in proposing that these scenes could be the subject of a fine artist. For this reason Wrights paintings are frequently used as a symbol of the Industrial Revolution and The Enlightenment. Wright was an important figure in relation to the Lunar Society and Derby Philosophical Society whose members were shaping the development of Science and Engineering in England.
In 1772, Wright created a 44 by 52-inch variation on this theme called The Iron Forge which was sold to Lord Palmerston for 200 pounds. This version is still in the Palmerstone family. Another 41 by 55-inch version titled An Iron Forge viewed from without was sold to Empress Catherine of Russia. Catherine the great later bought two other Wright paintings; one was of fireworks and another was from his Vesuvius paintings, however the painting of the forge was considered the best of the three.Another 1771 version was titled The Blacksmith's Shop and this sold to Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne. It remained in the Melbourne family until it was purchased and given to Down House where it joined the collection in memory of Charles Darwin. This version is now in the Mellon collection.
An Iron Forge develops the idea of blacksmith's shop which is a craft that has changed little on hundreds of years. Forges seen in the 1772 pension show the addition of water-powered hammers that allow the forger to stand proud before his family. The painting is in the Tate. A similar painting of a forge but viewed from outside is in the Hermitage Museum.
The Tate water-powered hammers Lord Palmerston Hermitage Museum Tate Lunar Society Derby Philosophical Society Blacksm Industrial Revolution Charles Darwin Bla Empress Catherine of Russia Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne Derby The Enlightenment