George Richmond, R.A.

Anthony Richmond, grandson of the artist;
Thomas Agnew & Son, London where bought by Sir David Scott in 1979 

Arts Council of Great Britain, Samuel Palmer and his Circle, The Shoreham Period, 1957, no. 83

Sheet: The sheet has been laid down onto a backing card. The majority of the sheet has not discoloured, however at three out of the four extreme edges there is a band of staining. This has been caused by a previous mount. There is a single foxmark located to the left hand side of the sitter's fore-head. Medium: The pencil and pen and brown ink has survived well. Frame: Held in a gilt-wood frame.
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Henry Walter was a member of the group of young men, including Samuel Palmer, Edward Calvert, Francis Oliver Finch, and the two Tatham brothers, Frederick and Arthur, and Richmond himself, who all shared a fascination for the drawings, prints and writing of William Blake.  The group, named 'The Ancients' by another member John Giles, would meet in Shoreham and discuss the relative merits of ancient over current behaviour, all illustrated so effectively by Blake's work.The present work was drawn just a few months after Blake's death.

Walter was an accomplished artist himself, painting portraits, animals and watercolours and particularly showing skill as a caricaturist.  He was a close friend of George Richmond, one portrait by Richmond being listed as 'a picture of my friend Henry Walter for self.'  Indeed Richmond borrowed from Walter £12, (and £40 from Samuel Palmer) when he eloped to Gretna Green in 1830.  Walter died in 1849 in Torquay and his funeral was attended by George Richmond. Another very similar Richmond drawing of Henry Walter, seated with his hair swept back, is in the collection of the British Museum (1929. 0416.5).