Lee Greene Richards
Encyclopedia
Lee Greene Richards is a famous Utah portrait artist. Many of his works can be found at the City and County Building
in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
. He was actually named Levi after his father but went by Lee. Levi W. Richards was the son of Levi Richards
who was Joseph Smith
's physician in Nauvoo, Illinois
.
Levi W. Richards, and his mother Sarah Griffith Richards had been painters.
Lee Richards was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and in 1895 he served as an LDS missionary
in England
.
Richards went to Paris
in 1901 where he studied at the Académie Julian
and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
. In 1904 he returned to Utah where he started an art studio.
In 1908 Richards married Mary Jane Eldredge, whose father was a wealthy banker. They spent over a year on their honeymoon in Paris.
Richards painted portraits of many presidents and leaders of the LDS Church, many of which now displayed in the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Richards also painted murals for the Cardston Alberta Temple
. He also did a mural for the Mesa Arizona Temple
. Richards also received a WPA
commission to do the murals on the Utah Capitol
Rotunda.
In 1921 Richards was the only American to serve as a judge at the Salon d'Automne
.
From 1938-1947 Richards was an art professor at the University of Utah
.
Salt Lake City and County Building
The Salt Lake City and County Building, usually called the "City-County Building", is the seat of government for Salt Lake City, Utah. The historic landmark formerly housed offices for Salt Lake County government as well, hence the name.- History :...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
Biography
Richards was the son of Levi W. and Lula Greene RichardsLula Greene Richards
Louisa Lula Greene Richards was a poet and was the first female periodical editor in Utah Territory, USA. Richards's work was published under a variety of names, including Louisa L. Greene, Louise L. Green, Lula Green, and Lula G. Richards.Lousia Lula Greene was born in Kanesville, Iowa. Lula's...
. He was actually named Levi after his father but went by Lee. Levi W. Richards was the son of Levi Richards
Levi Richards
Levi Richards was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a member of the Council of Fifty and Anointed Quorum and served as a physician for movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr. and others during the years the...
who was Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
's physician in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
.
Levi W. Richards, and his mother Sarah Griffith Richards had been painters.
Lee Richards was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and in 1895 he served as an LDS missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Richards went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1901 where he studied at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
. In 1904 he returned to Utah where he started an art studio.
In 1908 Richards married Mary Jane Eldredge, whose father was a wealthy banker. They spent over a year on their honeymoon in Paris.
Richards painted portraits of many presidents and leaders of the LDS Church, many of which now displayed in the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Richards also painted murals for the Cardston Alberta Temple
Cardston Alberta Temple
The Cardston Alberta Temple is the eighth constructed and sixth operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Cardston, Alberta, it is the oldest LDS temple outside the United States. It is one of eight temples that do not have an angel Moroni statue, and one of...
. He also did a mural for the Mesa Arizona Temple
Mesa Arizona Temple
The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of five LDS temples built or planned in the state.-History:...
. Richards also received a WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
commission to do the murals on the Utah Capitol
Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is the house of government for the U.S. state of Utah. The building houses the chambers of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor of Utah and Lieutenant Governor of Utah, along with other supporting offices for the Government of Utah...
Rotunda.
In 1921 Richards was the only American to serve as a judge at the Salon d'Automne
Salon d'Automne
In 1903, the first Salon d'Automne was organized by Georges Rouault, André Derain, Henri Matisse, Angele Delasalle and Albert Marquet as a reaction to the conservative policies of the official Paris Salon...
.
From 1938-1947 Richards was an art professor at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.