Jonathan Richardson (painter)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Richardson sometimes called "the Elder" to distinguish him from his son) was an English artist, collector of drawings, and writer on art, working almost entirely as a portrait-painter in London. He was considered by some art-critics as one of the three foremost painters of his time. He was the master of Thomas Hudson
and George Knapton
. Richardson was even more influential as a writer; he is credited with inspiring Joshua Reynolds
to paint and theorise with his book An Essay on the Theory of Painting. This book is credited with being "the first significant work of artistic theory in English."
's apprentice, but he was released early when his master retired. Richardson was lucky enough to be taken on as a painting apprentice by John Riley
. He learnt the art of portraiture from Riley whilst living at his master's house. Richardson's wife was Riley's niece.
Richardson was even more influential as a writer than as a painter according to Samuel Johnson
. He is credited with inspiring Joshua Reynolds
to paint and theorise with his 1715 book An Essay on the Theory of Painting. In 1722, Richardson published with his son, also Jonathan (1694–1771), An Account of Some of the Statues, Bas-Reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures in Italy (1722). The book was compiled by Richardson the elder using material gathered by his son whilst touring Italy in 1721. This was a very popular book and was used by young men as a basis for their Grand Tour
. It was said that the book became the basis for future purchases of art by wealthy collectors and therefore shaped English interest in foreign old masters.
In 1731 was considered by some art-critics as one of the three foremost painters of his time with Charles Jervas
and Michael Dahl
. He was also an excellent draughtsman, and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family. He was the master of Thomas Hudson
and George Knapton
. He painted and drew many self-portrait
s, which are highly regarded today.
When the elder Richardson died in Bloomsbury
on 28 May 1745 he left four daughters, one of whom married Thomas Hudson
the painter, who had previously been Richardson's pupil, as well as his son "Jonathan Richardson the Younger" (1694–1771), who was a painter and printmaker, though not as successfully as his father. He left a large and valuable collection of 4,749 old master
drawings, which together with the rest of Richardson's art collection were auctioned by Sotheby's
over eighteen days. Today a drawing that still bears Richardson's collector's mark gains substantially in value. Richardson has been described as one of the "greatest collectors of drawings of all time".
Thomas Hudson (painter)
Thomas Hudson was an English portrait painter in the 18th century. He was born in 1701 in the West Country of the United Kingdom. His exact birthplace is unknown...
and George Knapton
George Knapton
George Knapton was an English portrait painter and the first portraitist for the Society of Dilettanti in the 1740s. He became Surveyor and Keeper of the King's Pictures from 1765-1778.-Life and work:...
. Richardson was even more influential as a writer; he is credited with inspiring Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
to paint and theorise with his book An Essay on the Theory of Painting. This book is credited with being "the first significant work of artistic theory in English."
Biography
Richardson was born in 1666, but when he was about seven his father died and his mother married again. Richardson became a scrivenerScrivener
A scrivener was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities...
's apprentice, but he was released early when his master retired. Richardson was lucky enough to be taken on as a painting apprentice by John Riley
John Riley (painter)
John Riley, or Ryley, was an English portrait painter. He painted portraits of Charles II and James II, and was court painter to William III and Mary II...
. He learnt the art of portraiture from Riley whilst living at his master's house. Richardson's wife was Riley's niece.
Richardson was even more influential as a writer than as a painter according to Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
. He is credited with inspiring Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
to paint and theorise with his 1715 book An Essay on the Theory of Painting. In 1722, Richardson published with his son, also Jonathan (1694–1771), An Account of Some of the Statues, Bas-Reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures in Italy (1722). The book was compiled by Richardson the elder using material gathered by his son whilst touring Italy in 1721. This was a very popular book and was used by young men as a basis for their Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
. It was said that the book became the basis for future purchases of art by wealthy collectors and therefore shaped English interest in foreign old masters.
In 1731 was considered by some art-critics as one of the three foremost painters of his time with Charles Jervas
Charles Jervas
Charles Jervas [Jarvis] was an Irish portrait painter, translator, and art collector of the early 18th century.-Early life:...
and Michael Dahl
Michael Dahl
Michael Dahl was a Swedish portrait painter, who lived and worked in London for the larger part of his life....
. He was also an excellent draughtsman, and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family. He was the master of Thomas Hudson
Thomas Hudson (painter)
Thomas Hudson was an English portrait painter in the 18th century. He was born in 1701 in the West Country of the United Kingdom. His exact birthplace is unknown...
and George Knapton
George Knapton
George Knapton was an English portrait painter and the first portraitist for the Society of Dilettanti in the 1740s. He became Surveyor and Keeper of the King's Pictures from 1765-1778.-Life and work:...
. He painted and drew many self-portrait
Self-portrait
A self-portrait is a representation of an artist, drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by the artist. Although self-portraits have been made by artists since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid 15th century that artists can be frequently identified depicting...
s, which are highly regarded today.
When the elder Richardson died in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
on 28 May 1745 he left four daughters, one of whom married Thomas Hudson
Thomas Hudson (painter)
Thomas Hudson was an English portrait painter in the 18th century. He was born in 1701 in the West Country of the United Kingdom. His exact birthplace is unknown...
the painter, who had previously been Richardson's pupil, as well as his son "Jonathan Richardson the Younger" (1694–1771), who was a painter and printmaker, though not as successfully as his father. He left a large and valuable collection of 4,749 old master
Old Master
"Old Master" is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such an artist. An "old master print" is an original print made by an artist in the same period...
drawings, which together with the rest of Richardson's art collection were auctioned by Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
over eighteen days. Today a drawing that still bears Richardson's collector's mark gains substantially in value. Richardson has been described as one of the "greatest collectors of drawings of all time".
Works
- An Essay on the Theory of Painting (1715)
- Essay on the Whole Art of Criticism as it Relates to Painting and an Argument in Behalf of the Science of the Connoisseur (1719)
- An Account of Some of the Statues, Bas-Reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures in Italy (1722)
- Explanatory notes and remarks on Milton's Paradise lost By J. Richardson, father and son. With the life of the author, and a discourse on the poem.