Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this beautifully painted still life oil painting on canvas by the artist H. F. Richardson, who has clearly signed the work to the lower right hand corner. The painting depicts a tall, highly glazed, brown and gold baluster ceramic vase containing white magnolia flowers and white lilac, with a single magnolia bloom next to the vase. Just to the right front of the vase is a delicate porcelain figurine of a country girl and, to the right, located on top of a red book, is a mirrored witch's ball on stand.

The artist has cleverly managed to show the red of the book reflected in the lower part of the ball, with the back of the head of the figure to the left and the rest of the room beyond, in the top half. In our opinion, this is not the work of an amateur, but have been unable to find an artist of this name in any of our reference books, or online.

Having checked genealogical sites for people of these initials and surname, both male and female, we have only found one with any connection to art, and that is a Harold F. Richardson, who was born in 1908 in Steyning, lived in Surbiton during the war and died in Brighton in 1988. He is listed in the 1939 Register as a commercial artist. We are not saying that this is one of his works, but it is a possibility, and that he painted for his own pleasure outside his commercial activities.

The other possibility is that it is a pseudonym for another artist, but we can see no point in this, as we can see no point in artists who don't sign their work. However, not knowing for sure who the artist is, doesn't detract from its attractiveness or quality

The painting is newly framed in a 3 3/4 inch wooden frame with a gold and green reeded section and a raised ornate rim. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 26 1/8 x 20 inches - 66.35cm x 50.8cm

Frame size: 33 3/4 x 27 3/4 inches - 85.66cm x 70.45cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. The canvas is clean and taut and there is no damage or craquelure. The canvas is mounted on a strong stretcher with central bar. The frame is new..