The Richmond family

In 1906 Herbert Richmond and Elsa Bell married at East Rounton church. In the Richmond family a crucial tradition in British art is brought to light as successive generations of the family were all noted artists of their time. The son of the miniature-painter Thomas Richmond (1771–1837) was George Richmond (1809-1896), he was one of William Blake’s pupils in the small group of young artists called ‘The Ancients’. George Richmond and John Ruskin met in Rome in 1840 and they became lifelong friends. George, in a letter to his wife Julia wrote, “Mr Ruskin from Oxford called on me today, he seems a very delicate subject indeed.” In 1878 George’s son, William Blake Richmond, became Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford University, succeeding John Ruskin.