Untitled

Description

Description: This early work by Phil Richards, dated 1979, showcases his characteristic precision and rich imagination through a delicate interplay of ink and pencil crayon. Centered on an architectural floorplan motif—drawn with exacting linework—a set of oversized green leaves sprout through and above it, infusing the geometric structure with organic life. Below, a trio of shield-like emblems are rendered in vivid stripes and scalloped color fields, merging heraldic symbolism with abstraction.

Beneath these forms are three figurative elements that suggest spiritual or historical iconography: a haloed female figure rendered in medieval style, a colorful angel, and a seated Christ figure enclosed in an oval. These nods to Renaissance and illuminated manuscript imagery hint at Richards’ early interest in art history and layered narrative.

This composition feels both structured and playful—a study in contrasts between order and expression, past and present. The bright pigments, technical rigor, and symbolic layering reveal the roots of Richards’ later portraiture and surreal work, while offering insight into his evolving visual vocabulary.

Condition: Excellent, framed in gold leaf on a wooden frame, minor loss to gold on frame on top left side, repaired sympathetically. 

All dimensions in inches

Vertical
23
Horizontal
21
Depth
1