Canvas-mounted prints of Derby artist Joseph Wright’s most famous painting have been handed out to primary schools across the city as part of a local company’s 10-year anniversary.
Cosy Direct, an ethical supplier of educational and play equipment, has gifted 80 of the prints of Wright’s 1766 painting A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery so that children growing up in Derby can learn more about the city’s most famous son.
Cosy, employs 100 people and is based near Tutbury, but was founded in Derby in 2011 by city entrepreneur Peter Ellse, who set out to supply schools and nurseries with sustainable and responsibly sourced equipment that would encourage open-ended, outdoor play.
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From left St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy School pupil Lauren Muldoon, Peter Ellse, CEO of Cosy Direct, Fiona Muldoon, Upper key stage 2 lead and school pupil Amelia-May Olivier with the school’s copy of Joseph Wright’s A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery.
The company gives away 10% of its profits every year to good causes which work to make a difference both in the UK and overseas and wanted to celebrate its decade by inspiring local children by sharing free copies of Wright’s genius with their schools.
Representatives from a host of city schools were invited to an event at Derby Museum and Art Gallery earlier this month, where they viewed the original painting and listened to a talk by senior curator Lucy Bamford, who is recognised as the world’s foremost expert on Wright.
She explained how the Orrery is a metaphor for the Age of Enlightenment, which ushered in a greater understanding of science and technology and led to the Industrial Revolution – which was born on the banks of the River Derwent in Derby.
Peter Ellse said: “This wonderful painting is a celebration of both Joseph Wright and Derby’s immense contribution to the modern world, which is why we wanted to inspire the new generation of Derbeians growing up and learning at our city’s schools by giving them all their own copy.
“We’re really pleased by the response we’ve had from the schools, and we hope that pupils and staff alike enjoy their paintings and take the opportunity to learn more about the history of our city.”
One of the schools to receive a copy is St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy School in Newstead Avenue, Chaddesden, which is now deciding where to hang the print in order to give it pride of place.
From left: St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy School pupil Amelia-May Olivier, Year 5 and 6 teacher Michelle Hodgkinson, Peter Ellse, CEO of Cosy Direct, pupil Lauren Muldoon and Fiona Muldoon, Upper Key Stage 2 lead.
Fiona Muldoon, upper key-stage two lead teacher at St Alban’s, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed attending the event at the museum and we’re extremely grateful to Cosy for our Joseph Wright print.
“We’ll be studying the Industrial Revolution next term and so the Orrery is a perfect way for us to look at how it started and how Derby played a leading role in it.”
For more information visit www.cosydirect.com
