A Legacy Carved in Clay and Canvas In the turbulent dawn of a new nation, few artists captured the burgeoning spirit of American identity as intimately as Joseph Wright. Born in 1756 in Bordentown, New Jersey, Wright was a man of dual heritage and immense talent, the son of a Philadelphia barrelmaker and a celebrated wax sculptor. His early life was marked by a nomadic pursuit of excellence, moving from the quietude of colonial America to the prestigious halls of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. It was within this vibrant, transatlantic existence that Wright honed a skill set that bridge…