Joseph Wright of Derby

The media is getting excited about Liverpool's year-long stint as a European Capital of Culture, which kicks off tonight with Ringo Star drumming on the roof of St George's Hall (CLICK). Before all this daft and eco-unfriendly razzmatazz puts you off visiting Liverpool, I thought you might like to know that some genuine art is to be found there. The Walker Art Gallery is showing a major exhibition of paintings by a great British artist Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool until 24 February (title link). Although Wright's name is always associated with Derby, he spent three productive years in Liverpool painting portraits of the nouveau riches - probably slavers - although he also continued to explore those lighting effects for which he is famous. Admission is free. Yanks take note that this exhibition was jointly organised by the Walker Art Gallery and the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut, where it will be shown from 22 May to 30 August 2008.