Recent purchases of a group of excellent illustrations by René Richard (1895-1982) inspired this reflection of his stature as an important and genuine Canadian artist. He has long been considered of iconic stature in Quebec, the province where he made his home almost thirty years after his arrival in Canada from Switzerland with his father and mother. Manitoba born author, Gabrielle Roy, celebrated René Richard by styling her hero, Pierre Cadoral, in La Montagne Secrète after him. However, the facts of his first few decades in Canada suggest to me that his recognition should be equally prominent in Western Canada—an important region fueling today's art market and with a dearth of historical artists whose work celebrates the magnificence of the Western landscape of the generation of René Richard. Rarely titled by the artist, these woodsmen-trapper scenes are often of Western subject matter and are significant ethnographic paintings executed by a fine Canadian artist who himself was a former trapper and woodsman.
Works
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René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Fin de journée, 1967Signed and dedicated l.r.: 'R. Richard 1967' - Signé en bas à droite, ''R. Richard 1967';Inscribed in pen by the artist, 'a ma nièce Estelle' - Inscrit au stylo par l'artiste, 'a ma nièce Estelle'.Felt pen on paper - Crayon feutre sur papier11 x 12 3/4 in
27.9 x 32.4 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Campement Indien, 1931 (circa)Signed, l.r.: 'R. Richard';Inscribed, l.l.: '1'.Ink on paper - Encre sur papier11 1/2 x 13 1/2 in
29.2 x 34.3 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Campement Indien, 1932Signed and dated, l.l.: 'R. Richard. 32' - Signée et datée, b.g.: 'R. Richard. 32'Liquid medium on paper (Ink) - Technique liquide sur papier (encre)11 x 14 1/4 in
27.9 x 36.2 cm
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René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Étude de campement, 1951Signed l.r.: 'R. Richard'Ink pen on Beaverboard - Dessin au crayon sur Beaverboard9 3/4 x 12 in
24.8 x 30.5 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Fin de journée, 1967Signed and dedicated l.r.: 'R. Richard 1967' - Signé en bas à droite, ''R. Richard 1967';Inscribed in pen by the artist, 'a ma nièce Estelle' - Inscrit au stylo par l'artiste, 'a ma nièce Estelle'.Felt pen on paper - Crayon feutre sur papier11 x 12 3/4 in
27.9 x 32.4 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Fort Churchill (La fin du voyage), 1933Signed, dated and titled, l.r.: 'René Richard / 1933 / Fort Churchill' - Sgnée et datée 'René Richard / 1933 / Fort Churchill'Inscribed by hand, l.l.: '173' - Inscrit à la main, b.g.: '173'Dry medium on paper - Technique sèche sur papier7 1/4 x 7 1/4 in
18.4 x 18.4 cm
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René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Gros arbres, 1967Signed and dated l.r.: 'R. Richard / 1967' - Signé et daté en bas à droite, R. Richard / 1967'Felt pen - Crayon feutre13 x 10 1/2 in
33 x 26.7 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982La goélette. Fjord Adluylik, Ungava, 1951 (circa)Signed, l.r.: 'R. Richard' - Signée, au bas, à droite 'R. Richard'Incrisbed, l.l.: '10' - Inscrit au bas, à gauche: '10'Liquid medium on paper (Ink) - Technique humide sur papier (Encre)10 1/2 x 14 in
26.7 x 35.6 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Le repas du soir, 1967Signed and dedicated l.r.: 'R. Richard 1967' - Signé en bas à droite: 'R. Richard 1967'Felt pen on paper - Feutre sur papier11 1/2 x 13 in
29.2 x 33 cm
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René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Rivière Sainte-Anne, Mont Albert, Gaspésie, 1938Signed, dated and titled: 'R. Richard / 1938 / Rivière Sainte-Anne, Mont Albert, Gaspésie' - Signée, datée et titrée: 'R. Richard / 1938 / Rivière Sainte-Anne, Mont Albert, Gaspésie'Charcoal drawing on paper - Dessin au fusain sur papier19 1/2 x 16 1/2 in
49.5 x 41.9 cm -
René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Sans titre (Dessin 2), 1943Signed and dated, l.l.: 'R. RIchard. 1943' - Signée et datée, d.g.: 'R. RIchard. 1943'Dry medium on paper - Technique sèche sur papier
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René Richard, R.C.A.1895-1982Scène Grand-Nord. Canot et camp de trappeur, 1941Signed l.l.: 'R. Richard' - Signée et datée, b.g.: 'R. Richard'Dry medium on paper - Technique sèche sur papier15 1/4 x 20 1/2 in
38.7 x 52.1 cm