1. 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.
16 Facts About Jonathan Richardson
1. 2.
Jonathan Richardson was considered by some art-critics as one of the three foremost painters of his time.
3.
Jonathan Richardson was the master of Thomas Hudson and George Knapton.
4.
Jonathan Richardson became a scrivener's apprentice, but he was released early when his master retired.
5.
Jonathan Richardson was lucky enough to be taken on as a painting apprentice by John Riley.
6.
Jonathan Richardson learnt the art of portraiture from Riley whilst living at his master's house.
7.
Jonathan Richardson was even more influential as a writer than as a painter according to Samuel Johnson.
8.
Jonathan Richardson is credited with inspiring Joshua Reynolds to paint and theorise with his 1715 book An Essay on the Theory of Painting.
9.
In 1722, Richardson published with his son, Jonathan, An Account of Some of the Statues, Bas-Reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures in Italy.
10.
Jonathan Richardson was considered as one of the three foremost painters of his time with Charles Jervas and Michael Dahl.
11.
Jonathan Richardson was an excellent and prolific draughtsman, and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family, often using blue paper for them.
12.
Jonathan Richardson was the master of Thomas Hudson and George Knapton.
13.
Jonathan Richardson painted, drew and etched many self-portraits, which are highly regarded today.
14.
Jonathan Richardson has over 120 paintings in public ownership in the United Kingdom.
15.
Jonathan Richardson was survived by his son, Jonathan Richardson the Younger, who was brought up as a gentleman; he dabbled in painting and printmaking.
16.
Jonathan Richardson left a large and valuable collection of 4,749 Old Master drawings which were auctioned by Sotheby's over eighteen days.