John Inigo Richards

Who was John Inigo Richards?

John Inigo Richards was an English landscape painter who became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768, and was secretary to the Academy from 1788 until his death.

He studied art at the St Martin's Lane Academy in London, where he was a pupil of George Lambert, sometimes regarded as the "Father of English Landscape Oil Painting".

Like his contemporary Francis Hayman, Richards worked as a scene painter in London's theatres. He retained a lifelong interest in theatre design. He is credited with the design of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia., built for his brother-in-law Thomas Wignell.