Portrait of Rev D'Ewes Coke, his wife Hannah and Daniel Parker Coke

Wright employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark contrasts between illuminated areas and deep shadows to model the figures and foliage. This tenebrist approach, characteristic of his later work, heightens the three‑dimensionality of the subjects and creates a focused light that draws attention to their faces and gestures amidst the surrounding trees.

The painting entered the collection of Derby Museum and Art Gallery, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving works by local artists, particularly those of Wright, who spent much of his career in the Derby region.

Executed during the final decade of the 18th century, the work aligns with Wright’s interest in combining portraiture with landscape elements. While the composition retains a refined, almost rococo sensibility in its elegant attire and poised arrangement, the natural setting and dramatic lighting underscore the artist’s broader engagement with Enlightenment themes of reason and observation.