William Trost Richards

William Trost Richards (1833–1905) was an American painter celebrated for his detailed landscapes and seascapes, bridging the Hudson River School’s realism with the emerging American Pre-Raphaelite movement. Known for his precise draftsmanship and luminous treatment of light, he captured the rocky coastlines of New England, serene rural scenes, and the changing moods of the sea with remarkable accuracy and atmosphere. Richards was particularly admired for his ability to balance scientific observation with poetic beauty, making his marine paintings highly sought after. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he studied under German artist Paul Weber before traveling to Europe, where he was influenced by the works of the English Pre-Raphaelites. In 1856, he married Anna Matlack, and the couple raised eight children. Richards spent much of his later life in Newport, Rhode Island, continuing to paint the coastal views he loved until his death in 1905.