The "The Father of Caribbean Impressionism: Part I" Story

Sir Roland Richardson, Artist Extraordinaire

It was an ordinary day.  Had read in a few on St. Martin publications about Sir Roland Richardson, renowned island artist, appearing at La Samanna Hotel on Wednesdays and at his gallery in Marigot on Thursdays to demonstrate his painting techniques.  Sir Roland is one of the few artists who resides on the island that we do not have artwork  from hanging in our home in Lancaster, PA.  Have a few watercolors from Paul Elliot Thuleau and Antoine Chapon as well as a couple of prints from the late artist Alexandre Minguet.  We also have a few ceramic pieces from Marie Moire as well as Micka and an acrylic painting from the French artist Lisa.  For years we have been trying to visit with Sir Roland Richardson and purchase one of his prints for our collection of Caribbean artwork.  Today may be the day.  We hopped in the car and made the 15 minute journey to the capital city of the French side of St. Martin, Marigot where Sir Roland's gallery is located at #6 rue de la Republic.  Parked the car along the waterfront and headed to his shop.  A few years ago we had made a visit to his gallery, but never had the chance to meet him.  As we approached the gallery I could feel the excitement generated in me as I  

realized I was about to meet one of the greatest living artists from the Caribbean.  Sir Roland Richardson has an amazing history which includes 300 years of family island history dating back through the original European settlement and indigenous Indian cultures.  He is a descendant of slavery as well as royalty and represents a unique blend of many races, cultures and continents.  He was born in the building adjacent to his gallery in 1944.  He was educated on the island and eventually accepted a full-scholarship to the Hartford Art School in Connecticut.  Upon graduation he was offered a variety of opportunities in New York and Paris, but chose to return to his native soil to develop his artistry. Today he is recognized as the leading "Plein Air" Impressionist artist of our times and has earned him the title of "the Father of Caribbean Impressionism."  "Plein Air" is a French expression which means "in the open air," and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors, which is also called peinture sur le motif (painting on the ground) in French.  He is celebrating more than 40 years of artistic achievement on the island of St. Martin.  In 1998 he opened the Roland Richardson Gallery at it's present location.  The beautiful museum setting in the Old Marie at #6 rue de la Republic just oozes character.  The building dates to the 1840s and features two floors of his artwork.

The white stone building has a raised front porch and features bright red shutters and doors that open into his open air gallery.  On one side of the building is the home that was constructed in the early 1940s and was where Sir Roland was born.  To the rear of the gallery stands a concealed courtyard garden which has an array of beautiful island flowers which are lovingly attended to by his uncle.  Enclosing the garden is a stone-laid barracks that dates back to the court of Louis XVI, before the French Revolution, and was home to the soldiers who helped build Fort Louis which is a few blocks from the gallery towards the sea.  

In 2007 Roland Richardson was knighted by the Court of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and has also been honored with a lifetime Achievement Award from the French government. Sir Roland has come a long way from being the young boy who walked the fort's ground to being a penniless artist who found it necessary to re-grind his etching plates in order to make new images, to the skilled and well-known artist that he is today.  And....... Carol and I are about to meet him for the first time.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Tomorrow's story will take you into Sir Roland's gallery to see his work and as well as the man.