Arkwright's Cotton Mill By Night Analysis

The dark tones of Joseph Wright of Derby’s romanticism painting Arkwright’s Cotton Mills by Night show the duality sense of mysticism and excitemnt. The dark swirling clouds twinned with the light of the moon are classic of the Chiaroscuro (the use of deep variations in and subtle gradations of light and shade, especially to enhance the delineation of character and for general dramatic effect) style Derby is famous, for this gives the painting a feeling of a dramatic sense of mystery. The moon once again prominent also gives this painting a sense of mystery but is perhaps a more subtle reference to the Lunar Society of Birmingham (an informal group of prominent members of the Midlands Enlightenment who would meet on the full moon for dinner