Jonathan Richardson (12 January 1667 – 28 May 1745), sometimes called "the Elder" to distinguish him from his son (Jonathan Richardson the Younger), 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.[1] 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.[1] This book is credited with being "the first significant work of artistic theory in English."[2]
Alexander Pope (attributed to Richardson, c. 1736)Thomas Fanshawe (1696–1758), 4th of Parsloes Manor, (attributed to Richardson), ca. 1736.
Richardson was born in the parish of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate in London on 12 January 1667 to William and Mary Richardson. In 1672 his father died and his mother married again.[3] Richardson became a scrivener'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.[4]
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.[1] 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 1720.[5] 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.[6] It also provided an important model for Johann Joachim Winckelmann's History of Art (1764).[7] Richardson and his son also co-authored their Explanatory Notes and Remarks on Milton's Paradise Lost (1734). These notes are, in part, a response to Richard Bentley's 1732 edition of Paradise Lost, in which he frequently faults Milton's style or places exceptionable passages in square brackets, claiming they are the work of another hand. The Richardsons' responses to Bentley helped to lay the foundation for subsequent interpretation of the poem.[8][9]
Legacyedit
Richardson was considered as one of the three foremost painters of his time with Charles Jervas and Michael Dahl. He was also an excellent and prolific draughtsman, and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family. Recent research has shed light also on his activity as a printmaker, once again mostly in the field of portraiture.[10] He was the master of Thomas Hudson and George Knapton. He painted, drew and etched many self-portraits, which are highly regarded today.[1] Richardson has over 120 paintings in public ownership in the United Kingdom.[11][10]
When the elder Richardson died in Bloomsbury on 28 May 1745 he left four daughters, one of whom married Thomas Hudson the painter,[4] who had previously been Richardson's pupil. He was also survived by his son, Jonathan Richardson the Younger (1694–1771), who was brought up as a gentleman; he dabbled in painting and printmaking. Horace Walpole stated that he "painted a little" but whatever works he created are now lost.[4][12] He left a large and valuable collection of 4,749 Old Master drawings which were auctioned by Sotheby's over eighteen days. Another large collection of painting, prints, drawings, etc. (1241 lots in all) was auctioned by Christopher Cock over eighteen evenings from 22 January to 11 February 1747.[13] 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."[14]
An Essay on the Whole Art of Criticism as it Relates to Painting and an Argument in Behalf of the Science of a 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.
Referencesedit
^ abcdJonathan Richardson, London – National Portrait Gallery, accessed January 2010
^Jonathan Richardson the elder 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Getty Museum, accessed January 2009
^Carol Gibson-Wood, 'Richardson, Jonathan, the elder (1667–1745)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 31 July 2013
^ abcJonathon Richardson, Dictionary of National Biography, accessed January 2010
^Dušan Vasić, "Jonathan Richardson junior and the Plague of Marseilles", 2022, researchers.one
^Jonathan Richardson 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Dictionary of Art Historians, accessed January 2009
^Katherine Harloe, Winckelmann and the Invention of Antiquity, Oxford University Press, 2013
^Carol Gibson-Wood, Jonathan Richardson: Art Theorist of the English Enlightenment, Yale University Press
^John Leonard, Faithful Labourers: A Reception History of Paradise Lost, Oxford University Press, 2013
^Cock, Christopher (1747). A catalogue of the genuine and entire collection of Italian and other drawings, Prints, Models, and Casts, Of the late Eminent Mr. Jonathan ... London: Christopher Cock.
^Finsten, Jill (1993). "A Self Portrait of Jonathan Richardson". The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal. 21. J. Paul Getty Trust: 43–54. JSTOR 4166635.; Frits Lugt, Les marques de collections de dessins & d'estampes, 1921 & 1956, nos L.2183 and L.2184 Lugt online
External linksedit
Wikiquote has quotations related to Jonathan Richardson.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan Richardson.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Richardson, Jonathan (DNB00)
133 artworks by or after Jonathan Richardson at the Art UK site
January 01, 1970
jonathan, richardson, other, people, named, disambiguation, january, 1667, 1745, sometimes, called, elder, distinguish, from, younger, english, artist, collector, drawings, writer, working, almost, entirely, portrait, painter, london, considered, some, critics. For other people named Jonathan Richardson see Jonathan Richardson disambiguation Jonathan Richardson 12 January 1667 28 May 1745 sometimes called the Elder to distinguish him from his son Jonathan Richardson the Younger 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 1 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 1 This book is credited with being the first significant work of artistic theory in English 2 Jonathan RichardsonSelf portrait 1729Born 1667 01 12 12 January 1667London EnglandDied28 May 1745 1745 05 28 aged 78 Bloomsbury London EnglandNationalityBritish Contents 1 Life 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 References 5 External linksLife edit nbsp Alexander Pope attributed to Richardson c 1736 nbsp Thomas Fanshawe 1696 1758 4th of Parsloes Manor attributed to Richardson ca 1736 Richardson was born in the parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate in London on 12 January 1667 to William and Mary Richardson In 1672 his father died and his mother married again 3 Richardson became a scrivener 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 4 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 1 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 1720 5 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 6 It also provided an important model for Johann Joachim Winckelmann s History of Art 1764 7 Richardson and his son also co authored their Explanatory Notes and Remarks on Milton s Paradise Lost 1734 These notes are in part a response to Richard Bentley s 1732 edition of Paradise Lost in which he frequently faults Milton s style or places exceptionable passages in square brackets claiming they are the work of another hand The Richardsons responses to Bentley helped to lay the foundation for subsequent interpretation of the poem 8 9 Legacy editRichardson was considered as one of the three foremost painters of his time with Charles Jervas and Michael Dahl He was also an excellent and prolific draughtsman and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family Recent research has shed light also on his activity as a printmaker once again mostly in the field of portraiture 10 He was the master of Thomas Hudson and George Knapton He painted drew and etched many self portraits which are highly regarded today 1 Richardson has over 120 paintings in public ownership in the United Kingdom 11 10 When the elder Richardson died in Bloomsbury on 28 May 1745 he left four daughters one of whom married Thomas Hudson the painter 4 who had previously been Richardson s pupil He was also survived by his son Jonathan Richardson the Younger 1694 1771 who was brought up as a gentleman he dabbled in painting and printmaking Horace Walpole stated that he painted a little but whatever works he created are now lost 4 12 He left a large and valuable collection of 4 749 Old Master drawings which were auctioned by Sotheby s over eighteen days Another large collection of painting prints drawings etc 1241 lots in all was auctioned by Christopher Cock over eighteen evenings from 22 January to 11 February 1747 13 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 14 Works edit nbsp Fisher Harding Master Shipwright at the launch of HMS Royal Sovereign An Essay on the Theory of Painting 1715 An Essay on the Whole Art of Criticism as it Relates to Painting and an Argument in Behalf of the Science of a 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 References edit a b c d Jonathan Richardson London National Portrait Gallery accessed January 2010 Jonathan Richardson the elder Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Getty Museum accessed January 2009 Carol Gibson Wood Richardson Jonathan the elder 1667 1745 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 online edn Jan 2008 accessed 31 July 2013 a b c Jonathon Richardson Dictionary of National Biography accessed January 2010 Dusan Vasic Jonathan Richardson junior and the Plague of Marseilles 2022 researchers one Jonathan Richardson Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Dictionary of Art Historians accessed January 2009 Katherine Harloe Winckelmann and the Invention of Antiquity Oxford University Press 2013 Carol Gibson Wood Jonathan Richardson Art Theorist of the English Enlightenment Yale University Press John Leonard Faithful Labourers A Reception History of Paradise Lost Oxford University Press 2013 a b Bryony Bartlett Rawlings Jonathan Richardson 1667 1745 as Etcher Print Quarterly XXXV no 4 December 2018 pp 392 406 http www printquarterly com 8 contents 66 contents 2018 html Archived 13 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine 133 artworks by or after Jonathon Richardson the Elder at the Art UK site Getty ULAN Cock Christopher 1747 A catalogue of the genuine and entire collection of Italian and other drawings Prints Models and Casts Of the late Eminent Mr Jonathan London Christopher Cock Finsten Jill 1993 A Self Portrait of Jonathan Richardson The J Paul Getty Museum Journal 21 J Paul Getty Trust 43 54 JSTOR 4166635 Frits Lugt Les marques de collections de dessins amp d estampes 1921 amp 1956 nos L 2183 and L 2184 Lugt onlineExternal links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Jonathan Richardson nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan Richardson nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Richardson Jonathan DNB00 133 artworks by or after Jonathan Richardson at the Art UK site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jonathan Richardson amp oldid 1149751895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
