Thomas Miles Richardson Senior (1784-1848) - Windsor Castle

Thomas Miles Richardson Senior was a very accomplished artist and five of his children followed in his footsteps with his son of the same name being the most successful. The father during his lifetime was referred to as the 'Father of Fine Arts in Newcastle'. He was the force behind setting up the Northern Academy of Arts in Newcastle in 1828. He admired the style of David Cox and worked in the same tradition. 'His favourite sketching grounds were Scotland, the Borders and Northumbria, and in his later years he visited Italy, Switzerland and France. [1] He was elected as an associate of the New Watercolour Society in 1840.
 
This work of Windsor Castle is characteristic of the artist's skill in watercolour. It is highly detailed and has his often used white bodycolour and also a character on horseback. Interestingly, the VAM have another version of this composition in their collection (see photos, ascension number: O1363648). It is roughly half the size of our watercolour and is a zoomed in version. The VAM watercolour is catalogued as by Thomas Miles Richardson Jr. It has a slightly different style which suggests he was working off his father's original. Our watercolour appears to have been painted 'en plein air'.
 
Medium: Pencil and watercolour on paper,  inscribed l.l. 'Windsor 1842, T.M. Richardson', 24 x 37cm, (43.5 x 55cm framed).
 
Provenance: The Leger Galleries Ltd, 13 Old Bond Street, London (label verso).
 
Literature:
 
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume II M-Z', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, p.128. See entry on artist.
 
Condition report: generally in good condition. There are some foxing marks obvious in the sky and some general time fading. There is a small amount of wear to the frame. Please see photos.