Jonah and the Whale

There are two versions of "Jonah and the Whale", this one and a slightly smaller one. This one is dated 1950. The smaller one has no date, but there is an entry in Richard's diary that helps: 

1949: "Jonah (20x24”)…. Rex [ Nan Kivell of the Redfern Gallery] asked for a 2nd picture the same size as Mariner Dances." 

We know from the dimensions (20 x 30 in) recorded in RE's sales diary that the work on this page was painted, exhibited and sold in 1950.

This painting was first shown in the "Pictures for Schools" exhibition held at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1950, where it was voted most popular picture in the boys' choice category. Richard also won most popular picture in the girl's choice category in the same show with Sea View (1950).

'Jonah and the Whale' was bought from the exhibition by the Kent Education Committee through the Pictures for Schools scheme run by the The Society for Education through Art (SEA) that existed between 1947 and 1969 to encourage local education authorities and other education institutions to purchase original works of art.

Richard submitted paintings to several of these exhibitions, and sold a good many of them.