A life shaped by light and shadow
The traces of Richard Hurleston remain tied to the influence of Joseph Wright of Derby. Born in the 1740s, likely in St Martin in the Fields, his early path was guided by a premium from the Society of the Arts which led him to the Royal Academy in 1769. He did not work in isolation. In 1773, he joined Wright and the pregnant Ann Wright on a voyage toward Italy. Their ship rested for three weeks in Nice before reaching Livorno in February 1774. This period of travel brought him to Rome during 1775 and 1776, where he spent time recreating works found within the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
His life ended with a suddenness that mirrors the volatility of the weather. While riding on Salisbury Plain, a bolt of lightning struck him, leading to his death in either 1777 or 1780. He left behind a son, Frederick Yeates Hurlstone, who would also pursue painting.
The brush and the page
Hurleston’s work often looked toward the literary landscapes of Laurence Sterne. One small piece, measuring 12 x 12 cm, titled Maria and her Dog, draws its subject from characters in Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. This painting was exhibited in 1780 and is held in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. His hands worked with the same themes that occupied his mentor, creating portraits that connected the visual arts to the popular prose of the era.
Other fragments of his career include:
- A portrait of Joseph Wright, currently located in the Derby Museum.
- Exhibitions at the Royal Academy prior to his departure for Italy.
- Works inspired by the characters found in Sterne's novels.
A quiet legacy
Though much of his output is difficult to separate from the shadow of Wright, Hurleston’s presence is felt in the collections of Derby. His connection to the Morning Chronicle through his nephew and his son's later career as a painter suggests a family deeply embedded in the artistic and social fabric of the time. He moved through the studios of London and the galleries of Italy, leaving behind small, specific glimpses of a life cut short.
