Artist Spotlight: William Trost Richards (1833–1905)

Published on August 5th, 2021 | Posted in Featured

In the second half of the nineteenth century, William Trost Richards traveled throughout northeast America to paint intimate forest scenes and grand marine paintings with precision and detail. His work is held in the country’s finest museums —the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. To date, the highest price paid for a Richards painting at auction is $1,650,500. William Trost Richards painting, ca. 1900. William Trost Richards papers, 1848-1920. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.William Trost Richards (1833–1905), Grand Manan Island, 1899, oil on canvas, Hudson River School seascape painting“I watch and watch it, try to disentangle its push and leap and recoil, make myself ready to catch the tricks of the big breakers and am always startled . and am ashamed that I had missed getting the real drawing of such a splendid one, and this happens 20 times an hour and I have never gotten used to it.” —William Trost Richards, 1879William Trost Richards (1833–1905), Moonrise over the Beach, oil on canvas, Hudson River School seascape painting“This picture of the boundless ocean is impressive in its very simplicity. It contains no picturesque elements in the eyes of the multitude; but it commands attention from the memories of the sea-shore which it recalls, its play of light and shade on the swelling waves, its marvellous perspective and the charming unity of its tone. ” -Art Journal, 1877William Trost Richards (1833–1905), The Evening Sea, Brigantine, Shoals, oil on canvas, Hudson River School seascape painting“I take my hat off to him. He’s a master of drawing—I take off my hat—…” —William Merritt ChaseWilliam Trost Richards (1833–1905), Beach Scene, watercolor and gouache on paper, Hudson River School seascape painting“Really Annie, the best thing in the world is to be a good conscientious painter…I never commence anything without an earnest prayer for God’s help.” -A letter to his wife, 1857. William Trost Richards (1833-1905), 1856. Cartes de visite portraits of nineteenth century artists [graphic]. Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.“Surely we are destined to see or hear more of a painter of such unpretending power.” -London Times critic, 1871William Trost Richards (1833–1905), Moored Sailboat Inlet, 1888, watercolor on paper, Hudson River School seascape paintingSUMMER SPECIAL SALE continues through September 3, 2021 View over 150 deeply discounted paintings at www.www.questroyalfineart.com/special