In the KEYS "Ornithology, Wildlife Sale" on 7th September, I was lucky enough to outbid all other parties involved and purchased three RAR paintings after a fast and furious bidding challenge! Richard's paintings rarely come up for sale, so I was over the moon and very excited indeed, when I realised I had purchased all three! It was the first time I had bid in an on-line auction, so it was all a bit scary and nail biting to be honest – although utterly thrilling too!
All three painting's frames and mounts were in a very poor state and were more than probably in the original frames. One was of Brent Geese, Pintail and Wigeon flying over Halfway House at Blakeney Point – a serene and beautiful scene. The second was of a stunning Redstart with damage around the main picture, but I knew this could be cropped out with a new mount and frame, without spoiling the painting. I had viewed these paintings the day before the sale, when I dropped off our family writing desk and chair to be sold. The third, exquisitely painted Rustic Bunting, was in an unusual round and bevelled frame, of which I was told was an antique frame and could be sold for around £40 just by itself, but I decided I wanted it re-framed.
So with advice from Keys and close friends, I headed to Picturecraft at Holt and took all three to be re-framed. Lucy who works there, was extremely helpful and has an excellent eye for what goes and what doesn't. After chatting with her, I discovered she had been to the Norwich School of Art and I then told her I had been to Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design. Creatively together, we made an excellent team I felt and after a considerable amount of time in the shop, we came up with the best mounts and frames for these stunning works of Richard's, with valuable input and advice from the owner Michael. In fact when I collected them a few weeks later, I had a tear in my eye, which may sound over the top, but I was so pleased with the finished results! So much so, I then took other paintings to be re-framed (see next post) and more to be submitted.
At Keys Auctioneers, the day before the sale
Screenshots of the paintings on the Keys Website
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After the old frame was removed Notes Richard had written on the back of the painting I don't know who "Aunt Louie" was? Any help with this, will be very much appreciated
Given to Brent Johnson, who presumably lived at Ingworth
(I was told it was Brent Johnson by the owner of Picturecraft)
Pintail, Brent Geese and Wigeon Halfway House, Blakeney Point – 1952
RICHARD RICHARDSON
Completed framing by Picturecraft of Holt
Finished with "ArtGlass"
After the old frame was removed
This picture caused quite a lot of issues, as it would have been cropped far too close to the bird, had I cropped out the round outer circle of colour, so I decided it was best to finish it with corners showing, in order to leave plenty of space around the bird.
From a distance you can't really notice the corners, honest!
Fascinating
to see that RAR had made invaluable notes on the backs of the
paintings, including the dates of the Rustic Bunting being seen on
10th-13th September 1958 at Blakeney Point and even the ring number:
K11949!
Checked with Dawn B. of BTO and not re-trapped anywhere else – thank you very much.
Detail of the Rustic Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Blakeney Point – 10th-13th September, 1958
RICHARD RICHARDSON
Completed framing by Picturecraft of Holt
Finished with "ArtGlass" After the old frame was removed
Redstart
location unknown, 1954
RICHARD RICHARDSON
Completed framing by Picturecraft of Holt
Finished with "ArtGlass"
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