JOSEPH WRIGHT (1756-1793) was a second generation artist, following in the footsteps of his mother, Patience Wright, who was a sculptor with a studio first in New York City and later in London.  Young Wright joined his mother in London from 1775 until 1781 to study at the Royal Academy.  In 1781 the Wrights moved to Paris, where he became acquainted with Benjamin Franklin and painted

several portraits of him.  In 1782 Wright returned to America bearing a letter of introduction from Franklin to George Washington.  In 1783 and thereafter Wright painted several portraits of Washington and modeled his bust.  Washington himself is said to have ordered two of the portraits.  Wright was later appointed the first engraver at the Philadelphia mint.