Art Funded by you

Portrait of John Stafford and Portrait of Barbara Tatton

, 1769

Joseph Wright of Derby is celebrated today for his dramatic pictures of scientific discovery and experimentation, but in his time he was also known as a highly successful portrait painter.

It was during the years Wright spent in Liverpool (1768-1771) that he is thought to have painted these handsome portraits of Macclesfield residents John Stafford and Barbara Tatton.

Stafford (d. 1779) was burgess and town clerk of Macclesfield and agent to the Earl of Derby. His family were prominent figures in the silk industry and this portrait shows him wearing a colourful jacket and waistcoat, complete with silk-covered Macclesfield buttons.

Barbara Tatton ( 1706-1776) was the sister of Stafford’s wife Lucy. She was born in Macclesfield and Wright depicts her wearing the luxurious fur-trimmed silks for which the town was famous.

Macclesfield’s Silk Heritage Trust runs four museums which tell the story of the town’s silk industry. One of these museums is The Old Sunday School, to which Wright’s portrait of another important figure in the industry, Charles Roe, is currently on long-term loan. Roe built the town’s first silk mill in 1743 and Stafford’s son and son-in-law later became partners in his business.

The likenesses of Stafford and Tatton, which will now be displayed alongside the portrait of Roe, are the first works by Wright to be owned by the museum, as well as the first paintings by an 18th-century artist to enter the collection.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portrait of John Stafford and Portrait of Barbara Tatton, 1769

Date supported

2016

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

75 x 62 cm & 74.5 x 61.5 cm

Grant

9211

Total cost

20468

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Why is this object record marked 'archive'?
Where can I see this work of art? Is it on display?
What is Art Fund's purpose?
How is Art Fund funded?
What type of funding do you offer?
What does the acquisition grants programme support and who can apply?
How many works of art has Art Fund helped museums to acquire?
I’m a curator/researcher/arts professional and would like to find out more about this work, how do I get in touch?
I’m a journalist and would like to contact Art Fund about this work, how do I get in touch?
I would like to donate a work of art to a museum. What do I need to do?
I'd like to leave a gift to Art Fund in my will. How can I do this?

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.