Richardson, Charles Douglas (1853-1932; English/Australian)
“O Grave, Where is thy Victory? O Death, Where is thy Sting?” 1898
Oil on canvas, c. 213.4 x 152.4 cm
Presented by the artist, 1899; de-accessioned and sold at auction, 1941
Unidentified; present location unknown
Richardson, who arrived in Australia with his family at the age of 5, grew up in Portland and then moved to Melbourne, where he studied at the National Gallery School under Thomas Clarke. From 1881-89, he studied and worked in London, winning acclaim for both his painting and sculpture.
He was the only sculptor to show works in the 9 x 5 exhibition in Melbourne in 1889 (e.g. Wind 1889, wax on cedar panel, NGA, Canberra), and later became a significant figure in the Victorian Artists’ Society. In 1914, he married Margaret Baskerville (1861-1930), also a sculptor.
Other works by Richardson, acquired later, are in the NGV. But this large painting, possibly a resurrection image, cannot be traced.
Refs.
AR 1899, p.28; SB, list of works following p.546, no.56 (noting sold at auction 9/10/41); NGV 1905, p.100 (III.McArthur Gallery, no.6; giving size as 84” x 60”)
For Richardson, see http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/richardson-charles-douglas-8201 (biography by Margaret Rose, published in ADB vol.11, 1988, citing in particular her own book Victorian Artists: Margaret Baskerville (1861-1930) and C.Douglas Richardson (1853-1932), Melbourne, 1988); see also Bénézit 11, p.1002 (listing the present work).For other NGV works by Richardson, see http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/artist/493/. Wind is reproduced and discussed by Astbury Sunlight and Shadow (1989), pp.104-5, pl.79