Ferdinand Richardt

Destined to become a carpenter, Ferdinand Richardt (1819-1895) followed in his older brother’s footsteps to enrol at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He was particularly interested in the study of perspective, which is reflected in his landscape paintings with their vivid colouration, cool natural light and gentle recession for a three-dimensional approach. Following invitations to America, including in 1855, Richardt became deeply interested in Niagara Falls and represented it in oil painting countless times, which subsequently entered major American public collections. Not only residing in America, he was later invited by Queen Victoria in 1864 to display his art at Windsor Castle. Despite being well-travelled, Richardt also precisely depicted country mansions, castles and churches closer to home, visually shaping the conceptions of Denmark’s architectural heritage.