Art History Lecture w/ Tom Richards - Great Art in Black & White

This week we are happy to share with you a true painter’s lecture!

Originally presented for the Intermediate Painting students at The FAA campus in Florence, Tom Richards, Assistant director of The Florence Academy of Art, explores the concepts of value, and artworks in monochrome or colored portraits in black and white.

From 15th century frescoes to portraits by Rembrandt or Sargent, one of the most valuable tools in a painter’s arsenal is a strong understanding of value. During the lecture Tom takes us through a variety of paintings (a list of featured artworks is below) and describes how value and not only color is used to construct a successful image.

More about Tom:

Tom Richards was born in London in 1982. In addition to his experience as a painter he has an MA in Art History from the University of St Andrews, graduating in 2005. Since then Tom has divided his time between London and Florence. In recent years he has exhibited his work in London and undertaken numerous commissions in Europe and beyond. Before joining The Florence Academy of Art he trained extensively with Charles H. Cecil, a former colleague of Daniel Graves.

To view his work please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/tominflorence/

https://www.tawrichards.com/

https://www.florenceacademyofart.com/alumni-gallery/tom-richards/

Artworks featured:

• The Ghent Altarpiece, Hubert and Jan van Eyck, completed 1432. Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium.
• Frescoes by Giotto di Bondone (1267–1337), Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.
• Fresco by Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone (Simone) Cassai (Masaccio) (1401-1428), Brancacci Chapel Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence, Italy.
• Monochrome fresco cycle by (Andrea del Sarto) Andrea d'Agnolo di Francesco di Luca (1486–1530), Chiostro dello Scalzo, Florence, Italy.
• Guernica, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). 1937. Oil on canvas. Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain.
• Self portrait with model, Anders Zorn (1860-1920). 1896. Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). 1653. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
• Man with Gold Chain, Jacopo Tintoretto (1519-1594). 1551. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
• Boys Drawing, Sofie Ribbing (1835-1894). 1864. Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Gothenburg, Sweden.
• The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, Jusepe de Ribera. 1630. Oil on Canvas. Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy.
• Portrait of the Vendramin Family, Tiziano Vecellio  (Titian) (1488/90-1476). 1540s. National Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
• The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company in 1627, Frans Hals (1582–1666).  Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands.
• Banquet of the officers of the Calivermen Civic Guard, Haarlem formerly known as The Banquet of the Officers of the St Adrian Militia Company in 1627. Frans Hals (1582–1666).  Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands.
• Landscape painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875).
• Still life with Teapot, Grapes, Chestnuts, and a Pear, Jean Siméon Chardin (1699-1779). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.
• Portrait of an Unknown Man, Antonello da Messina (1430–1479). c1465-1470. Museo Mandralisca, Cefalù, Italy
• Portrait of a Gentleman (Il Gentile Cavaliere), Giovanni Battista Moroni (1520-24–1579). The National Gallery, London, United Kingdom.
• Portrait of a Lady, Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641). 1630-1640. The Pinacoteca di Brera ("Brera Art Gallery”), Milan, Italy.
• Self-portrait with beret and turned-up collar, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). 1659. Oil on canvas. Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Self Portrait as the Apostle Paul, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). 1661. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Self-Portrait, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669). 1659. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA.
• Ferdinando Brandani, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660). 1650. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
• Self-portrait, Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641). 1640. National Portrait Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom.
• Portrait of Maria de Tassis,  Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641). c. 1629/1630. Lichtenstein Museum, Vienna, Austria.
• Portrait of Elizabeth Garret Anderson, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). 1900. National Portrait Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom.
• Portrait of a Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543). 1526–1528. Oil on oak. National Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom.
• Portrait of George Henschel, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). 1889. Private Collection.
• Portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865-1932), John Singer Sargent 1856–1925. 1892. Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
• Henry G. Marquand, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). 1897. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.