“Wright, a sixth-generation Washingtonian, liked to reimagine his city’s past. As an artist-historian, Wright researched historical photographica, letters and ephemera, and then transformed these forgotten records into atmospheric life on canvas, capturing the essence of history as it unfolded, gifting us with a truly unique time-traveling experience of DC. In Wright’s paintings, you might come across 1860s Union soldiers relaxing, or an 1884 sweeping aerial view from the recently-completed Washington Monument overlooking Foggy Bottom and Georgetown. As the nation’s capital, Washington’s parades were among the most grand. Also well documented, Wright capitalized on these historical photographs in a series of parade paintings of Pennsylvania Avenue bringing DC’s past glories back to life from celebration of the end of the Civil War or the inauguration of FDR.

Wright prefered to express rather than reflect on the city’s past. He masterfully blended facets of his life with historical reconstructions of Washington, resulting in painstakingly detailed works of art. While some of his paintings serve as historical records for their accuracy, Wright’s depictions of DC are also highly personalized. You can find many faces of his friends, students, or literary figures (such as Walt Whitman) amongst the various crowds. Wright also liked to paint himself into history as a soldier, parade reveler, or a casual gentleman in 1900 walking across F Street in front of the patent attorneys’ office building, which would one day house his studio.”