John Richardson b. 2 May 1818

Also known as RA John Richardson
  • Artist (Draughtsman),
  • Artist (Photographer),
  • Artist (Painter)
John Richardson, painter, professional photographer and teacher, trained at the Royal Academy, London. He painted scenes from British history and literature, as well as copies after Old Masters such as Reynolds, Teniers, Cuyp, Van Dyck, Rosa and Guercino.

painter, sketcher, professional photographer and teacher, was born on 2 May 1818, second son and third child of Thomas Richardson and Sarah, née Fisher, of Islington, London. Richardson arrived in Victoria with his wife and children aboard the Swiftsure on 29 September 1858. He resided at Portland where his brother Thomas Elliott Richardson was editor of_The Portland Guardian._ In August 1859 Richardson exhibited twenty-three genre and history paintings he had brought from England in a large room above the office of the Portland Guardian. The works not sold were auction through an Art Union. In Portland he painted portraits in oil and hand coloured portrait photographs. He is listed by Sandy Barrie as having a photography practise in Portland in 1858-60. The Portland Guardian of 2 February 1860 p.2 declared 'By Mr. Richardson’s peculiar process, the great desideratum in Photographs has been achieved — that of preserving the exquisite coloring of nature without sacrificing any of the admirable details of the most elaborate Photographs”. Richardson’s brother sold the newspaper in 1860 and John moved to Melbourne.He took up residence at “Green Mount House”, Octavia Street, Saint Kilda. Little is known of his activities except that he became a “Drawing Master at the Denominational Schools

This entry is a stub. You can help DAAO by submitting a biography.

Writers:
Staff Writer
newtog
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2022