Wrights stil minder om [[Rembrandt]]s [[Chiaroscuro|clairobscur-maleri]]. Han var ven med [[oplysningstiden]]s største navne i England, og de bestilte portrætter hos ham. Wright udførte også en række malerier med naturvidenskabens fremskridt som motiv.<ref name="GETTY">[http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=697&page=1 Joseph Wright of Derby] The J. Paul Getty Museum</ref><ref name="MEZZO">[http://www.mezzo-mondo.com/arts/mm/wright/wright.html Wright of Derby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114003238/http://www.mezzo-mondo.com/arts/mm/wright/wright.html |date=14. januar 2008 }} Mezzo-Mondo (Ref: articles by Judy Egerton and David Fraser, Tate Gallery, London, 1990</ref> I ''A Philosopher Giving that Lecture on the Orrery in which a Lamp is put in place of the Sun'' (1766) viser en naturvidenskabsmand demonstrere et [[Tellurium (mekanisme)|tellurium]].<ref>[http://www.derby.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/MuseumsGalleries/ArttreasureTheOrrery.htm The Orrery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008114320/http://www.derby.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/MuseumsGalleries/ArttreasureTheOrrery.htm |date= 8. oktober 2007 }} Derby Museum</ref>
Historie Maleri