Music | Dance
Richard played the violin as a boy and later owned a clavichord as well as an upright piano. His friend John Bickerdike introduced him to Renaissance music and the viol family which appear a lot in his work of the 20s. He even wrote some music using a sort of counterpoint. His extraordinary picture 'The Judgement' illustrates Cecilia, the patron saint of music, judging musical instruments which cascade through the air in a church interior.
A Judgement (1951)
oil on canvas - 102h × 78w (cm)
A different approach to The Last Judgement when instruments instead of people are being judged here by their patron saint Cecilia. A ‘spiritual’ gust of wind blows the curtains whipping up all the sheet music. Some choirboys watch incredulously from a high balcony.
Dancing Men (1948)
oil on canvas - 40.5h × 51w (cm)
The men dance in front of a backdrop of the sea while the concertina player leans on a wall. The fifth man seems necessary for the composition but is one too many for this square dance. The clown joins in with a dignified solo of his own.
Lady with a Lute (1929)
pencil on paper - 38h × 28w (cm)
This is probably a theorbo with two sets of strings which meant it could produce some lovely resonant bass notes. The bookcase contains some of Richard’s own books of Byrd’s music and other composers of that era.
The Quetzal Dance (1985)
oil on board - 39.4h × 48.9w (cm)
Northern Procession (1983)
oil on board - 61h × 73.5w (cm)
Still Life with Recorder (1982)
oil on board - 14.6h × 49.5w (cm)
A Moment of Sadness (1981)
oil on board - 51h × 76w (cm)
Mischief Night (1975)
oil on canvas - 78.8h × 122w (cm)
Northumbrian Sword Dance (1973)
oil on board - 30.5h × 61w (cm)
Watchers on a Beach (1971)
oil on board - 76.2h × 101.6w (cm)
The Procession, Yorkshire (1970)
oil on board - 43h × 98w (cm)
Funeral Music (c1968)
- 40.6h × 61w (cm)
Studio Window (1963)
oil on board - 122h × 244w (cm)
The Rose (1960)
oil on board - 90h × 70w (cm)
The Girl with the Drum, Fleetwood (1960)
oil on board - 50.2h × 69.9w (cm)
Departure (1959)
oil on canvas - 78.7h × 121.9w (cm)
Men of Straw (1957)
oil on panel - 50.8h × 101.6w (cm)
York Festival Triptych (1956)
oil on canvas - 130.8h × 196.2w (cm)
The Elephant Boy (1956)
oil on canvas - 76.2h × 101.6w (cm)
Queen of the Sea, 1911 (1954)
oil on canvas - 122h × 182.8w (cm)
The Mummers (1952)
oil on board - 88h × 92w (cm)
The Mummers (1951)
oil on board - 21h × 15.9w (cm)
The Ferryboat 'Charon' (1950)
oil on canvas - 74h × 98w (cm)
Negro Ballet (c1950)
oil on canvas - 51h × 61w (cm)
King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by Candlelight (1947)
oil on panel - 119h × 89.5w (cm)
The Singer (1930)
oil on canvas - 66h × 49.5w (cm)
The Girls at a Spinet (1930)
oil on canvas - 44.4h × 55.8w (cm)
The Unwilling Listener (1930)
oil on paper - 19h × 27.8w (cm)
The Family (1929)
pencil on paper - 30.5h × 25.4w (cm)
Mother and Daughter (1929)
pen on paper
The Muse (1929)
pencil on paper - 33h × 25w (cm)
The Spinet (1929)
pencil on paper
Evensong (1929)
pencil on paper - 32.5h × 38w (cm)
The New Dress (1929)
pencil on paper - 26.5h × 38w (cm)
Clowns by the Sea (c1929)
pencil on paper
Design for Title Page: Harpsichord and Virginal Music (1928)
pencil on paper - 24.5h × 20.2w (cm)
Chorister (1928)
pen on paper
The Bass Player (c1928)
pencil on paper - 16.8h × 12w (cm)
Screen (c1928)
oil on ? - 137.16h × 304.8w (cm)
Dancing Sailor (c1928)
pencil on paper - 26.2h × 14.3w (cm)
The Great Viol (1927)
pencil on paper - 31.9h × 25.9w (cm)
Fantazia (1927)
pencil on paper - 25.5h × 32w (cm)
Harlequins (1926)
oil on canvas - 70h × 55w (cm)
Sailors and Other Figures Carousing by a Quay (1925)
oil on canvas - 91.5h × 122w (cm)
The Organ (1917)
watercolour and ink on paper