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
Many of David Tindle's paintings possess what might be called a quiet profundity. For the art critic Brian Sewell, Tindle was: 'a painter in that quietly Romantic tradition of British art ... concerned with everyday, intimate, domestic subjects.'
November 15, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Many of David Tindle's paintings possess what might be called a quiet profundity. For the art critic Brian Sewell, Tindle was: 'a painter in that quietly Romantic tradition of British art ... concerned with everyday, intimate, domestic subjects.'
'Early Morning near Kentish Town,'
Algernon Newton's work is one version of the English view, and at the very opposite end of Constable and Turner, there is also something mysterious in his art, something modernist, a kind of wit. This painting dates from around 1930.
Algernon Newton's work is one version of the English view, and at the very opposite end of Constable and Turner, there is also something mysterious in his art, something modernist, a kind of wit. This painting dates from around 1930.
November 15, 2025 at 6:44 AM
'Early Morning near Kentish Town,'
Algernon Newton's work is one version of the English view, and at the very opposite end of Constable and Turner, there is also something mysterious in his art, something modernist, a kind of wit. This painting dates from around 1930.
Algernon Newton's work is one version of the English view, and at the very opposite end of Constable and Turner, there is also something mysterious in his art, something modernist, a kind of wit. This painting dates from around 1930.
The muscular tension of the boxers in George Bellows's 'Club Night,' gives it an unexpected modernity, painted as it was in 1907, six years before the famous Armory Show which brought cubism and post-impressionism to a bewildered New York public.
November 14, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The muscular tension of the boxers in George Bellows's 'Club Night,' gives it an unexpected modernity, painted as it was in 1907, six years before the famous Armory Show which brought cubism and post-impressionism to a bewildered New York public.
This portrait (1928) of Geoffrey Rhodes by Charles Moheney was painted when with Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden, they were working on a mural for Morley College in London. The murals were destroyed by bombing in the 1940 Blitz on London.
November 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This portrait (1928) of Geoffrey Rhodes by Charles Moheney was painted when with Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden, they were working on a mural for Morley College in London. The murals were destroyed by bombing in the 1940 Blitz on London.
Christopher Nevinson's drawings of figures from 1914 to 1920 were strongly influenced by Wyndham Lewis. This work dates from around 1916 and is for sale. Dimensions are: 55 cm x 38 cm. Drop me a line richard@richardmorris.org if you are interested.
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Christopher Nevinson's drawings of figures from 1914 to 1920 were strongly influenced by Wyndham Lewis. This work dates from around 1916 and is for sale. Dimensions are: 55 cm x 38 cm. Drop me a line richard@richardmorris.org if you are interested.
'An English Holiday, a Puncture’ was one of several panels of a mural depicting scenes from rural life that Lord Beaverbrook commissioned from Mary Adshead in 1928 for the dining room at his house in Newmarket; the mural was cancelled, the panels were later exhibited in London.
November 14, 2025 at 12:08 PM
'An English Holiday, a Puncture’ was one of several panels of a mural depicting scenes from rural life that Lord Beaverbrook commissioned from Mary Adshead in 1928 for the dining room at his house in Newmarket; the mural was cancelled, the panels were later exhibited in London.
'The Morning Commute,' (c1950) is typical of Reginald Brill's keenly observed depictions of people, and of the gritty, low-toned style he sometimes used to heighten atmosphere. Recently, his work has begun to receive the attention it is due.
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
'The Morning Commute,' (c1950) is typical of Reginald Brill's keenly observed depictions of people, and of the gritty, low-toned style he sometimes used to heighten atmosphere. Recently, his work has begun to receive the attention it is due.
For a small picture, Clarice Beckett's 'Beach Road, Beaumaris,' (c1919) is dramatic in its impact; looking through her paintings gives the impression she saw in soft focus - the fairly consistent lack of brushstrokes makes the paint appear to float on the surface of the canvas.
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
For a small picture, Clarice Beckett's 'Beach Road, Beaumaris,' (c1919) is dramatic in its impact; looking through her paintings gives the impression she saw in soft focus - the fairly consistent lack of brushstrokes makes the paint appear to float on the surface of the canvas.
'Autumn.' (1908) Leo Putz studied at the Académie Julian under William Bouguereau but despite his academic training, he was more interested in avant garde subjects and impressionistic forms of expression being pioneered by Gauguin and Renoir, which informed his own work.
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
'Autumn.' (1908) Leo Putz studied at the Académie Julian under William Bouguereau but despite his academic training, he was more interested in avant garde subjects and impressionistic forms of expression being pioneered by Gauguin and Renoir, which informed his own work.
My recent piece for The Spectator on the poor state of art history teaching in British universities is now on my website. Much more on this subject to come richardmorris.org/blog-1-1/save-… The picture below is 'Caldy Island,' (1926) by David Jones.
November 13, 2025 at 10:45 AM
My recent piece for The Spectator on the poor state of art history teaching in British universities is now on my website. Much more on this subject to come richardmorris.org/blog-1-1/save-… The picture below is 'Caldy Island,' (1926) by David Jones.
A watercolour (1903) by Archibald Knox of Kella Mill at Sulby on the lsle of Man, the island where he spent most of his early life. 'The places I paint are within short walks from home; one day something never seen before, an appearance of light on colour.'
November 13, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A watercolour (1903) by Archibald Knox of Kella Mill at Sulby on the lsle of Man, the island where he spent most of his early life. 'The places I paint are within short walks from home; one day something never seen before, an appearance of light on colour.'
In the mid-1870s Guiseppe De Nittis travelled to London where he painted a series of urban scenes, including the Houses of Parliament - these reflected the innovations he had learned from Edgar Degas who had invited him to participate in the first Impressionist exhibition.
November 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
In the mid-1870s Guiseppe De Nittis travelled to London where he painted a series of urban scenes, including the Houses of Parliament - these reflected the innovations he had learned from Edgar Degas who had invited him to participate in the first Impressionist exhibition.
William Nicholson was always torn between the need to paint society portraits and his love for still lifes and landscape painting. His admiration of Manet is evident in this still life - the eye is led into the picture’s depth by the black pansy, the title of this work from 1910.
November 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
William Nicholson was always torn between the need to paint society portraits and his love for still lifes and landscape painting. His admiration of Manet is evident in this still life - the eye is led into the picture’s depth by the black pansy, the title of this work from 1910.
Cézanne produced a number of sketches of his son Paul. This is from 1880 - it was a decade of great emotional turbulence for Cézanne, a disastrous affair, the break-up with Emile Zola, the abrupt decision to marry his long-time companion Hortense, and the death of his father
November 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Cézanne produced a number of sketches of his son Paul. This is from 1880 - it was a decade of great emotional turbulence for Cézanne, a disastrous affair, the break-up with Emile Zola, the abrupt decision to marry his long-time companion Hortense, and the death of his father
'Bredon Water,' (1871) lies near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, it's a rare landscape for Frederick Sandys, a key member of the Pre Raphaelite circle. We can sense Sandys grappling with technical and conceptual issues of authenticity versus finish and originality versus convention.
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
'Bredon Water,' (1871) lies near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, it's a rare landscape for Frederick Sandys, a key member of the Pre Raphaelite circle. We can sense Sandys grappling with technical and conceptual issues of authenticity versus finish and originality versus convention.
Eric Kennington's career as a War Artist began in the latter half of WW1. 'Sleeping Soldier,' was included in an exhibition of chalk drawings at the Leicester Galleries in London in an exhibition titled 'The British Soldier,' during the summer of 1918.
November 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Eric Kennington's career as a War Artist began in the latter half of WW1. 'Sleeping Soldier,' was included in an exhibition of chalk drawings at the Leicester Galleries in London in an exhibition titled 'The British Soldier,' during the summer of 1918.
Rex Vicat Cole's picture is of Rupert Court from around 1930 - the shops and bars here have had various incarnations as part of Soho’s colourful nightlife. It was immortalised in a famous photograph of The Beatles taken by Dezo Hoffman in 1963.
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Rex Vicat Cole's picture is of Rupert Court from around 1930 - the shops and bars here have had various incarnations as part of Soho’s colourful nightlife. It was immortalised in a famous photograph of The Beatles taken by Dezo Hoffman in 1963.
'Le bouillon.' (c1890) A particularly fine picture by Étienne Tournes of a convalescent. The bowl is in crisp focus, and as the eye wanders further away from the optical centre of the painting, the edges and details become progressively more blurred.
November 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
'Le bouillon.' (c1890) A particularly fine picture by Étienne Tournes of a convalescent. The bowl is in crisp focus, and as the eye wanders further away from the optical centre of the painting, the edges and details become progressively more blurred.
'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.