Richard Morris
@ahistoryinart.bsky.social
Art historian, dealer/art consultant 19thC and 20thC British/European art. Writing book on lesser known great artists. Seen in/on: CNN, NBC, The Spectator, The Times etc Posts by RM and others.
website: richardmorris.org
[email protected]
website: richardmorris.org
[email protected]
'Cloud study, sunset.' (1821) John Constable’s interest in the changing appearance of the sky dates to hus early as a student. At twenty-two, newly enrolled at the Royal Academy, he described the London sky as being how ‘a pearl must look through a burnt glass.'
November 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
'Cloud study, sunset.' (1821) John Constable’s interest in the changing appearance of the sky dates to hus early as a student. At twenty-two, newly enrolled at the Royal Academy, he described the London sky as being how ‘a pearl must look through a burnt glass.'
'Self Portrait.' After settling in London from South Africa in 1916, Edward Wolfe studied at the Slade and was then employed by Roger Fry's Omega Workshops in 1918-19. Wolfe's fame owed much to regular exhibitions with the London Group and friendship with the Sitwell family.
November 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
'Self Portrait.' After settling in London from South Africa in 1916, Edward Wolfe studied at the Slade and was then employed by Roger Fry's Omega Workshops in 1918-19. Wolfe's fame owed much to regular exhibitions with the London Group and friendship with the Sitwell family.
'Fall of the Leaves, Kensington Gardens,' (1900) is an exquisitely painted work by Paul Maitland. From the 1890s, he had been painting the London parks describing an ordinary world, places, and people he knew.
November 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
'Fall of the Leaves, Kensington Gardens,' (1900) is an exquisitely painted work by Paul Maitland. From the 1890s, he had been painting the London parks describing an ordinary world, places, and people he knew.
Peter Krøyer's 'Summer Day at Skagen South Beach,' (1884) captures the carefree existence that defined the isolated painting community that flourished in Skagen at the tip of Jutland at the end of the 19thC.
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Peter Krøyer's 'Summer Day at Skagen South Beach,' (1884) captures the carefree existence that defined the isolated painting community that flourished in Skagen at the tip of Jutland at the end of the 19thC.
'Sea at Sunset,' was painted towards the end of James Dickson Innes' working life, and was likely to have been done at Rye in Sussex where he went to work with Frank Slade and other friends in 1913. He died from tuberculosis the following year, aged 27.
November 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
'Sea at Sunset,' was painted towards the end of James Dickson Innes' working life, and was likely to have been done at Rye in Sussex where he went to work with Frank Slade and other friends in 1913. He died from tuberculosis the following year, aged 27.
'Dora in an Interior.' (1957) John
Koch worked within a genre of American realism that includes Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper as its luminaries, an intimism invariably painted within the glow of what Dorothy Parker called 'the autumn of the day, the late afternoon.'
Koch worked within a genre of American realism that includes Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper as its luminaries, an intimism invariably painted within the glow of what Dorothy Parker called 'the autumn of the day, the late afternoon.'
November 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
'Dora in an Interior.' (1957) John
Koch worked within a genre of American realism that includes Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper as its luminaries, an intimism invariably painted within the glow of what Dorothy Parker called 'the autumn of the day, the late afternoon.'
Koch worked within a genre of American realism that includes Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper as its luminaries, an intimism invariably painted within the glow of what Dorothy Parker called 'the autumn of the day, the late afternoon.'
This work painted in 1901 on Rügen in the Baltic sea, shows the growing influence of Monet's sense of light and Paul Signac's stylistic technique on Wassily Kandinsky, it also shows him anticipating the tensions and relationships between pure colours in a partly abstract seascape
November 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
This work painted in 1901 on Rügen in the Baltic sea, shows the growing influence of Monet's sense of light and Paul Signac's stylistic technique on Wassily Kandinsky, it also shows him anticipating the tensions and relationships between pure colours in a partly abstract seascape
It's only recently that I've come across work by Prince Eugen of Sweden, the wonderfully named Duke of Närke, and the youngest son of King Oscar II and Queen Sophia. He trained under Leon Bonnat and Puvis de Chavannes - this is a scene at Lövsprickning, Balingsta in 1887.
November 26, 2025 at 7:54 AM
It's only recently that I've come across work by Prince Eugen of Sweden, the wonderfully named Duke of Närke, and the youngest son of King Oscar II and Queen Sophia. He trained under Leon Bonnat and Puvis de Chavannes - this is a scene at Lövsprickning, Balingsta in 1887.
'Full Moon, Lake Constance.' (1919)
Following a period of working in a romantic Expressionist style (this picture is a good example) Adolf Dietrich was persuaded by Max Beckmann to join the Nue Sachlicheit (New Objectivity movement). He achieved fame in the 1930s after turning to naïve art.
Following a period of working in a romantic Expressionist style (this picture is a good example) Adolf Dietrich was persuaded by Max Beckmann to join the Nue Sachlicheit (New Objectivity movement). He achieved fame in the 1930s after turning to naïve art.
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
'Full Moon, Lake Constance.' (1919)
Following a period of working in a romantic Expressionist style (this picture is a good example) Adolf Dietrich was persuaded by Max Beckmann to join the Nue Sachlicheit (New Objectivity movement). He achieved fame in the 1930s after turning to naïve art.
Following a period of working in a romantic Expressionist style (this picture is a good example) Adolf Dietrich was persuaded by Max Beckmann to join the Nue Sachlicheit (New Objectivity movement). He achieved fame in the 1930s after turning to naïve art.
'Temple of Malatesta, Rimini.' After being called up to serve with the Royal Engineers in WW2, Carel Weight was sent to Italy and had a free hand in choosing his subjects; he later travelled to Vienna and to Greece. He said this time was a 'scholarship from the army.'
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
'Temple of Malatesta, Rimini.' After being called up to serve with the Royal Engineers in WW2, Carel Weight was sent to Italy and had a free hand in choosing his subjects; he later travelled to Vienna and to Greece. He said this time was a 'scholarship from the army.'
Alexandre Serebriakoff’s 1941 interior of Christian Béraud and Boris Kochno's apartment is a study in how objects lean toward one another. Serebriakoff said of it: 'it felt assembled by intuition rather than someone having taken any interest in interior design.'
November 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Alexandre Serebriakoff’s 1941 interior of Christian Béraud and Boris Kochno's apartment is a study in how objects lean toward one another. Serebriakoff said of it: 'it felt assembled by intuition rather than someone having taken any interest in interior design.'
'Skagen.' (1889) Eilif Petersen first visited Skagen in Denmark in 1884 and visited Paris the following year where he saw work by Monet and Alfred Sisley, both of whom had a profound influence in the way he depicted light on sand and moving water.
November 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
'Skagen.' (1889) Eilif Petersen first visited Skagen in Denmark in 1884 and visited Paris the following year where he saw work by Monet and Alfred Sisley, both of whom had a profound influence in the way he depicted light on sand and moving water.
For Algernon Newton buildings were living entities, vulnerable to the ravages of time, neglect or weather. period curiosities, timeless and unreal. This work, painted as a monotone picture, depicts 'Dovehouse Street, Chelsea,' in London, 1920.
November 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
For Algernon Newton buildings were living entities, vulnerable to the ravages of time, neglect or weather. period curiosities, timeless and unreal. This work, painted as a monotone picture, depicts 'Dovehouse Street, Chelsea,' in London, 1920.
Painted in 1897, 'Les messieurs en noir,' is a strikingly modern picture for its time yet steeped in an artistic tradition that stretches back to the 17thC. Dutch genre painting with its modest subjects and bold contrasts of light and dark was a key influence on Èdouard Vuillard.
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Painted in 1897, 'Les messieurs en noir,' is a strikingly modern picture for its time yet steeped in an artistic tradition that stretches back to the 17thC. Dutch genre painting with its modest subjects and bold contrasts of light and dark was a key influence on Èdouard Vuillard.
An essay on murals and public art. Please let me know your comments. 'Life in a Boarding House,' (1930) by Eric Ravilious,' for Morley College, London was destroyed in WW2. richardmorris.org/blog-1-1/mural…
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
An essay on murals and public art. Please let me know your comments. 'Life in a Boarding House,' (1930) by Eric Ravilious,' for Morley College, London was destroyed in WW2. richardmorris.org/blog-1-1/mural…
Almost all paintings that show a mirror and a reflection get the optical relations wrong - to see the image as unlikely is to miss its point, it's practically the only way to compose a two-fold image to reveal a hidden face, as Walter Sickert does here in this work from 1906.
November 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Almost all paintings that show a mirror and a reflection get the optical relations wrong - to see the image as unlikely is to miss its point, it's practically the only way to compose a two-fold image to reveal a hidden face, as Walter Sickert does here in this work from 1906.
'La Cantina.' (c1937) Famed for his huge murals across North America and Mexico, by the time of this work, Diego Rivera had dedicated himself almost exclusively to easel painting. There's a feeling of serenity in this picture, of ease; appropriate given the subject.
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 AM
'La Cantina.' (c1937) Famed for his huge murals across North America and Mexico, by the time of this work, Diego Rivera had dedicated himself almost exclusively to easel painting. There's a feeling of serenity in this picture, of ease; appropriate given the subject.
'Sunset,' (1893) probably shows a view over the Lake Pielinen near Koli in eastern Finland. The leading artistic personalities of Eero Järnefelt's generation, from Jean Sibelius to Akseli Gallen-Kallela, regarded Karelia as a lost paradise.
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM
'Sunset,' (1893) probably shows a view over the Lake Pielinen near Koli in eastern Finland. The leading artistic personalities of Eero Järnefelt's generation, from Jean Sibelius to Akseli Gallen-Kallela, regarded Karelia as a lost paradise.
'Artichokes and Cathay Quinces.' Unlike other still-lifes, those by Morandi for example, John Aldridge's objects are not huddled, withdrawn or being squashed into each other so we can be sure the fruit and the flower heads are as he found them. This is from 1967.
November 23, 2025 at 7:50 PM
'Artichokes and Cathay Quinces.' Unlike other still-lifes, those by Morandi for example, John Aldridge's objects are not huddled, withdrawn or being squashed into each other so we can be sure the fruit and the flower heads are as he found them. This is from 1967.
'Winter Trees.' (1890) Benjamin Haughton had a remarkable facility for painting woodland. Here, he's pictured a segment of a copse with exquisitely rendered detail which brings with it the stillness and mystery that characterizes his best landscapes.
November 23, 2025 at 5:57 PM
'Winter Trees.' (1890) Benjamin Haughton had a remarkable facility for painting woodland. Here, he's pictured a segment of a copse with exquisitely rendered detail which brings with it the stillness and mystery that characterizes his best landscapes.
In February 1887, Georges Seurat exhibited his 'Après-midi à la Grande Jatte,' in Brussels - it caused a sensation. The painting made its mark on Alfred Finch, who turned to divisionism in the winter of 1887. His 'The Road to Nieuport,' was made the following year.
November 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
In February 1887, Georges Seurat exhibited his 'Après-midi à la Grande Jatte,' in Brussels - it caused a sensation. The painting made its mark on Alfred Finch, who turned to divisionism in the winter of 1887. His 'The Road to Nieuport,' was made the following year.
Two key moments happened in Félix Vallotton’s life in 1899: he married his wife Gabrielle (seen here slumbering in bed), and he decided to fully commit himself to painting rather than the more profitable line of engraving.
November 23, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Two key moments happened in Félix Vallotton’s life in 1899: he married his wife Gabrielle (seen here slumbering in bed), and he decided to fully commit himself to painting rather than the more profitable line of engraving.
An artist’s studio has long been one of the great subjects in painting. Harley Griffiths positions his easel at an angle that keeps its canvas hidden from us. The artist himself is out of sight, yet we sense his presence in the act of creating the work (1948) we’re looking at.
November 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
An artist’s studio has long been one of the great subjects in painting. Harley Griffiths positions his easel at an angle that keeps its canvas hidden from us. The artist himself is out of sight, yet we sense his presence in the act of creating the work (1948) we’re looking at.
Examining Benjamin Haughton again, one is struck less by his landscapes than by this curious painting of a woman in a churchyard (c1910). It is a picture devoid of sentiment; its interest lies entirely in the orchestration of form, which is what gives it its strength.
November 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Examining Benjamin Haughton again, one is struck less by his landscapes than by this curious painting of a woman in a churchyard (c1910). It is a picture devoid of sentiment; its interest lies entirely in the orchestration of form, which is what gives it its strength.
'Reading in the Dining Room.' (1924) was painted at Lucy and Jos Hessel’s home in Vaucresson. Jos, of the art gallery Bernheim-Jeune, became Vuillard’s dealer in 1912, and Lucy was one of Vuillard’s great loves, their relationship lasted over 30 years until his death in 1940.
November 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
'Reading in the Dining Room.' (1924) was painted at Lucy and Jos Hessel’s home in Vaucresson. Jos, of the art gallery Bernheim-Jeune, became Vuillard’s dealer in 1912, and Lucy was one of Vuillard’s great loves, their relationship lasted over 30 years until his death in 1940.