RICHARDSON, CHARLES DOUGLAS (1853-1932)

“Portrait Of A Young Woman” (1880)
Oil on canvas laid on board
30 x 27cm
Signed lower left
*private collection, Woollahra
 
Richardson was a prominent, influential British-born Australian Impressionist & Sculptor (& close friend & studio mate of Tom Roberts). Richardson was regarded as one of the most important artists of his generation in Melbourne during the late 1880s and the 1890s. He was discussed by critics as the equal of such artists as Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin. Richardson's works were read as synonymous with the new nationalist school of plein air painters. Educated at Scotch College, Charles Douglas studied design at the School of Design, Carlton. Then he studied at the National Gallery of Victoria's school of design under Thomas Clark & Oswald Campbell. In 1877-81 Richardson exhibited paintings with the Victorian Academy of the Arts and completed lithographs for the Australian Pictorial Almanac (1880). In 1881 he went to London and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Arts schools, joining Roberts & Bertram Mackennal who at times shared his studio. Richardson won three prizes for design and sculpture in 1883 & 1884, including a second and third in the Armitage prizes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1885 & 1888. In 1889 he returned to Melbourne, exhibited with the Victorian Artists' Society in May, and showed wax and painted impressions at the '9 x 5 Impressions' exhibition in August. In 1890-97 as director of the life class he taught at the V.A.S. and exhibited both painting and sculpture. With Margaret Baskerville, Web Gilbert and others in 1898 he founded the influential Yarra Sculptors' Society. As well as teaching drawing and sculpture Richardson undertook several war memorials and produced several commemorative medals. After being secretary, he was a diplomatic and popular president of the V.A.S. in 1917-24 and 1926-30. This life portrait, one of his earliest paintings, was produced in October 1880, at the same time Richardson and Tom Roberts successfully pleaded for establishment of life classes at the National Gallery Schools.