Lot 352
352
Professor Sir Albert E. Richardson, P.R.A. (London 1880-1964 Bedfordshire)
Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's… Read more
Professor Sir Albert E. Richardson, P.R.A. (London 1880-1964 Bedfordshire)

A Gothic fantasy, The Feast of the Blessed Virgin, inspired by Reims Cathedral

Details
Professor Sir Albert E. Richardson, P.R.A. (London 1880-1964 Bedfordshire)
A Gothic fantasy, The Feast of the Blessed Virgin, inspired by Reims Cathedral
signed and dated 'A E Richardson 1921 (?)' and inscribed 'ALBERT EDWARD RICHARDSON/41 RUSSELL SQ. W.C.1./A GOTHIC FANTASY, THE FEAST/OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN NO.1' (on the artist's label attached to the backboard)
pencil, pen and black ink and watercolour, on paper
27¼ x 20 in. (69.2 x 50.8 cm.)
Exhibited
Luton, Luton Museum and Art Gallery, The Watercolours of Sir Albert Richardson, K.C.V.O. P.P.R.A. F.R.I.B.A., April 1963, no. 133.
Special notice
Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

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Lot Essay

The Cathedral depicted in Professor Richardson's fantasy is possibly based on the West Front of Reims Cathedral, North-East of Paris. The cathedral was begun in 1211 under the auspices of Archbishop Aubry de Humbert and the architect Jean d'Orbais, and was modeled on Chartres Cathedral (circa 1194). Professor Richardson's cathedral contains distinctive elements which relate to the West Front such as the rose window and the pinnacled crocket between the two towers. Professor Richardson shows the procession of the The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary which further connects the fantasy to Reims, as the central portal in the West Front is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The ecclesiastical buildings depicted on either side of the cathedral are presumably imaginary structures inspired by original, as yet unidentified buildings.

We are grateful to John Harris and Charles Hind for their assistance with cataloguing the group of architectural fantasies.

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