Peter Perez Burdett, a cartographer and draughtsman, was used by his friend Joseph Wright of Derby, the painter as a model for many of his paintings, including some of his most famous such as The Orrery and An Experiment with an Airpump, and in turn, used Joseph for a little financial support. It is not surprising Joseph thought Peter such a splendid model, he really did have pin-up good looks, and sort of knowing enigmatic quality.
Peter was born in Essex in about 1735, and he was a cartographer, surveyor, artist, and draughtsman – a man of many talents! Along with his talents came a personality which was not quite as equable, and he lead a rather up-and-down life, by the time he left Derby he owed Joseph £175.10.11 which was never paid! . He probably met Joseph in the 1760’s and Joseph painted a picture of him and his wife Hannah in 1865:
Hannah looks older than Peter, and neither seem to be looking at the other; she has a miserable expression, he looks quite knowing, sitting there with his telescope to be used in his map-making. There is a fence between them which may have some significance.
Peer met Joseph in Derby, where he had been commissioned to survey the county of Derbyshire for £100; they became firm friends and kept in touch even when Peter moved to Liverpool in 1768. Joseph also moved to Liverpool, but after various enterprises and adventures Peter moved to Baden in Germany, taking the portrait of him and Hannah with him, but leaving Hannah at home! He was based in Karlsruhe and given the rank first of captain, then major by the Margrave of Baden, and put in charge of a surveying project. Can’t you just imagine him in one of those extraordinary German uniforms? He must have cut a very dashing figure! At some point Hannah died and Peter married again, Friedericke Kottewski who gave birth to their daughter Anne. Peter did not live to seeher grow up and marry Count Frederick Nostitz, he died in Germany in 1793
Lois Elsden 