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
richard@richardmorris.org
website: richardmorris.org
richard@richardmorris.org
'Travellers.' (1929) Eduard Ole's painting has captured passengers on a long train journey, much as a candid photographer might do. Ole, an Estonian artist, was influenced by the work of the New Objectivity, formed during the 1920s as a reaction against expressionism.
November 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
'Travellers.' (1929) Eduard Ole's painting has captured passengers on a long train journey, much as a candid photographer might do. Ole, an Estonian artist, was influenced by the work of the New Objectivity, formed during the 1920s as a reaction against expressionism.
'Logan's Rock, St Levan,' (c1916) perfectly demonstrates the height of Laura Knight’s development in Cornwall, this work is part of a series of paintings she composed between 1915 and 1919 all sharing an elevated viewpoint, dramatic diagonal composition and vibrant colour.
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
'Logan's Rock, St Levan,' (c1916) perfectly demonstrates the height of Laura Knight’s development in Cornwall, this work is part of a series of paintings she composed between 1915 and 1919 all sharing an elevated viewpoint, dramatic diagonal composition and vibrant colour.
Portrait of Madame Maillol,' (1895)
was painted in the second part of Aristide Malliol's career. His painting style altered after viewing Paul Gauguin's work at an exhibition in the Café Volpini in 1889; after Gauguin left for Tahiti, Maillol turned to sculpture.
was painted in the second part of Aristide Malliol's career. His painting style altered after viewing Paul Gauguin's work at an exhibition in the Café Volpini in 1889; after Gauguin left for Tahiti, Maillol turned to sculpture.
November 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Portrait of Madame Maillol,' (1895)
was painted in the second part of Aristide Malliol's career. His painting style altered after viewing Paul Gauguin's work at an exhibition in the Café Volpini in 1889; after Gauguin left for Tahiti, Maillol turned to sculpture.
was painted in the second part of Aristide Malliol's career. His painting style altered after viewing Paul Gauguin's work at an exhibition in the Café Volpini in 1889; after Gauguin left for Tahiti, Maillol turned to sculpture.
'The Rowers.' (1924) Manuel Losada is one of the key names in the modern Basque painting of the early 20thC - his work was praised by both Gauguin and Degas, and one can argue, there is a certain Degas-like expression of movement in this picture.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
'The Rowers.' (1924) Manuel Losada is one of the key names in the modern Basque painting of the early 20thC - his work was praised by both Gauguin and Degas, and one can argue, there is a certain Degas-like expression of movement in this picture.
'Sunrise' (1892) by Maria Iakunchikova was painted at Vvedenskoye, her family’s estate near Moscow. By this time, she had already developed a distinctive Symbolist style, expressing her emotional responses to nature.
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
'Sunrise' (1892) by Maria Iakunchikova was painted at Vvedenskoye, her family’s estate near Moscow. By this time, she had already developed a distinctive Symbolist style, expressing her emotional responses to nature.
The evening light in Piet Mondrian’s 'The Tree,' (c1908) flattens the forms, and the muted tones reveal the influence of his evolving artistic philosophy. In time, he would move beyond nature reducing his art to a rectilinear grid of black on white accented with primary colours.
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The evening light in Piet Mondrian’s 'The Tree,' (c1908) flattens the forms, and the muted tones reveal the influence of his evolving artistic philosophy. In time, he would move beyond nature reducing his art to a rectilinear grid of black on white accented with primary colours.
One of the greatest pastellists of the 18thC, Maurice-Quentin de La Tour is known as much for his insight into the character of his sitters as for his remarkable command of the medium. This superb self-portrait is from around 1737.
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
One of the greatest pastellists of the 18thC, Maurice-Quentin de La Tour is known as much for his insight into the character of his sitters as for his remarkable command of the medium. This superb self-portrait is from around 1737.
It is early in the morning, and there are few people about in this 1919 work by William Nicholson of the Cenotaph in London. It is the original white-painted wood and plaster structure designed by Edward Lutyens, it stands out in stark relief against the Foreign Office.
November 9, 2025 at 10:52 AM
It is early in the morning, and there are few people about in this 1919 work by William Nicholson of the Cenotaph in London. It is the original white-painted wood and plaster structure designed by Edward Lutyens, it stands out in stark relief against the Foreign Office.
'The Line of the Plough.' (1919) John Arnesby Brown's painting was the first picture he made in the spring following the end of WW1. It suggests the start of the cycle of life and new beginnings after the shattered landscapes he witnessed in France and Belgium during the war.
November 9, 2025 at 8:05 AM
'The Line of the Plough.' (1919) John Arnesby Brown's painting was the first picture he made in the spring following the end of WW1. It suggests the start of the cycle of life and new beginnings after the shattered landscapes he witnessed in France and Belgium during the war.
Joan Sloan had an affinity (obsession, even) for Isadora Duncan's dancing and wrote of her several times in his diary. He also did numerous paintings, drawings, and monotypes of her. Here (1911) Sloan depicts her as a cumulus cloud of pink flesh.
November 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Joan Sloan had an affinity (obsession, even) for Isadora Duncan's dancing and wrote of her several times in his diary. He also did numerous paintings, drawings, and monotypes of her. Here (1911) Sloan depicts her as a cumulus cloud of pink flesh.
Henry Tonks was a teacher of enormous influence at the Slade School, a significant artist and one of the great defenders against the rapid rise of modernism in the 20thC. This work (c1930) shows his friend, the artist Philip Wilson Steer (seated grey hair) at home in Chelsea.
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Henry Tonks was a teacher of enormous influence at the Slade School, a significant artist and one of the great defenders against the rapid rise of modernism in the 20thC. This work (c1930) shows his friend, the artist Philip Wilson Steer (seated grey hair) at home in Chelsea.
According to the poet and writer Guillaume Apollinaire, this portrait by Jean Metzinger (1910) is not only the first cubist portrait, but it was also the first cubist portrait he sat for before the famous ones by Marcoussis, Modigliani, Picasso and Larionov.
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 AM
According to the poet and writer Guillaume Apollinaire, this portrait by Jean Metzinger (1910) is not only the first cubist portrait, but it was also the first cubist portrait he sat for before the famous ones by Marcoussis, Modigliani, Picasso and Larionov.
'A Wiltsire Landscape,' (1928) casts up an early morning mood - a magic realm. By the time of this work, William Nicholson had married Edie Stuart-Wortley and moved to the Old Manor House in the village of Sutton Veny in Wiltshire.
November 8, 2025 at 8:02 AM
'A Wiltsire Landscape,' (1928) casts up an early morning mood - a magic realm. By the time of this work, William Nicholson had married Edie Stuart-Wortley and moved to the Old Manor House in the village of Sutton Veny in Wiltshire.
Claude Francis Barry’s paintings of WW1 are amongst the most accomplished of his works, with his images of searchlights across London being the most evocative - here (1918) he used small concentrated dots of colour to create an atmospheric haze of light.
November 7, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Claude Francis Barry’s paintings of WW1 are amongst the most accomplished of his works, with his images of searchlights across London being the most evocative - here (1918) he used small concentrated dots of colour to create an atmospheric haze of light.
Felix Vallotton's noir sensibility shows in his Hopper-like portrait (1896) of Felix Fenéon the editor of the literary and arts magazine La Revue Blanche working at night by a window, the dark panes framing piles of blank white paper.
November 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Felix Vallotton's noir sensibility shows in his Hopper-like portrait (1896) of Felix Fenéon the editor of the literary and arts magazine La Revue Blanche working at night by a window, the dark panes framing piles of blank white paper.
'Hop Alleys.' In the 1950s, William Townsend began a series of paintings based on the different methods of stringing Kentish hop alleys - a pretext for complicated geometric abstraction without the need to paint abstract pictures.
November 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
'Hop Alleys.' In the 1950s, William Townsend began a series of paintings based on the different methods of stringing Kentish hop alleys - a pretext for complicated geometric abstraction without the need to paint abstract pictures.
'In the Kitchen.' (1961) Reginald Brill's fascination with people led to him closely studying the human form and everyday activities. His recognition faded after his death in comparison to his contemporaries; only now is he beginning to receive the attention his work is due.
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
'In the Kitchen.' (1961) Reginald Brill's fascination with people led to him closely studying the human form and everyday activities. His recognition faded after his death in comparison to his contemporaries; only now is he beginning to receive the attention his work is due.
Toulouse-Lautrec and Albert Belleroche were exact contemporaries who first met at the age of eighteen. Belleroche painted Toulouse-Lautrec’s portrait and shared with him an admiration for the model and actress Lili Grenier, whom he depicts here asleep in a work from 1890.
November 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Toulouse-Lautrec and Albert Belleroche were exact contemporaries who first met at the age of eighteen. Belleroche painted Toulouse-Lautrec’s portrait and shared with him an admiration for the model and actress Lili Grenier, whom he depicts here asleep in a work from 1890.
Ruskin Spear's portrait is of Sir Robin Darwin, the great-grandson of Charles Darwin who as principal in the 1950s made the Royal College of Art a leading force in arts education and changed the image and fortunes of the Royal Academy. He was also a fine landscape painter.
November 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Ruskin Spear's portrait is of Sir Robin Darwin, the great-grandson of Charles Darwin who as principal in the 1950s made the Royal College of Art a leading force in arts education and changed the image and fortunes of the Royal Academy. He was also a fine landscape painter.
Still-lifes often appear slightly unreal: while their rendering is lifelike, their compositions are detached from any natural setting. In this work by James Fitton (c1950) each object is firmly modelled in cool light, and we can clearly sense its place within the arrangement.
November 6, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Still-lifes often appear slightly unreal: while their rendering is lifelike, their compositions are detached from any natural setting. In this work by James Fitton (c1950) each object is firmly modelled in cool light, and we can clearly sense its place within the arrangement.
'Playa de Valencia,' was painted at the end of the summer of 1910 by Sorolla on El Cabañal beach, Valencia - it centres on one of his familiar motifs, fishermen landing the day's catch.
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM
'Playa de Valencia,' was painted at the end of the summer of 1910 by Sorolla on El Cabañal beach, Valencia - it centres on one of his familiar motifs, fishermen landing the day's catch.
When Whistler showed 'Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket,' in 1875, he outraged the chief moralist of art John Ruskin: 'I... never expected to hear a coxcomb ask 200 guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public's face.' And so a lawsuit began.
November 5, 2025 at 7:45 PM
When Whistler showed 'Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket,' in 1875, he outraged the chief moralist of art John Ruskin: 'I... never expected to hear a coxcomb ask 200 guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public's face.' And so a lawsuit began.
'The Figure at the Window,' (1907) shows why Austin Spare was once hailed as the next Aubrey Beardsley and attracted extravagant praise from Augustus John, and John Singer Sargent, who described him as England's greatest draughtsman.
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
'The Figure at the Window,' (1907) shows why Austin Spare was once hailed as the next Aubrey Beardsley and attracted extravagant praise from Augustus John, and John Singer Sargent, who described him as England's greatest draughtsman.
'The Aldwych, London.' (1955) Charles McCall's London is often made up of views from a corner of a city street - his paintings have a strong sense of colour and painterliness just like his mentor Samuel Peploe.
November 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
'The Aldwych, London.' (1955) Charles McCall's London is often made up of views from a corner of a city street - his paintings have a strong sense of colour and painterliness just like his mentor Samuel Peploe.
Painted in 1913, 'Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice,' John Singer Sargent has abandoned the 18thC panoramic tradition and painted a cropped version of the church, creating a more visually dynamic and arresting viewpoint.
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Painted in 1913, 'Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice,' John Singer Sargent has abandoned the 18thC panoramic tradition and painted a cropped version of the church, creating a more visually dynamic and arresting viewpoint.