Richardson Ellson

Richardson Ellson is documented as an artist active in 1875, known primarily through a collection of precise technical and observational drawings focusing on architectural details, ornamental design, and urban infrastructure. Fifteen drawings attributed to Ellson are represented in institutional holdings, providing insight into late nineteenth-century documentation practices concerning applied arts and metalwork.

The body of work preserved demonstrates a dual interest in historical reference and contemporary urban observation. Studies of historic ecclesiastical ornamentation are evident in works such as 14th century Ornament from Blickling Church, Norfolk, balanced by detailed records of Parisian street hardware and furniture, including A Metal Street Lamp, Boulevard St. Martin.

Ellson devoted significant attention to the careful recording of functional and decorative metal supports, documenting nuances across various urban settings, as seen in the related studies Curved Metal Brackets Supporting a Shelf outside a Window, Boulevard de la Madeleine and Curved Metal Brackets Supporting a Shelf outside a Window, Isle St. Louis. The documentation also includes functional design concepts, exemplified by Design for Church Lights or Standards.

These observational works are permanently preserved in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lending institutional weight to the study of Richardson Ellson prints. Because of the nature and age of these historical documents, high-quality prints are frequently accessed by scholars interested in period design and applied arts.