Richard Gabriel (1924 – 2016)
‘A painter completely devoid of theories, conveying a primitive poetry of Ceylon with delightful fancy’ – William Graham
Richard Don Gabriel first made his appearance at the age of 20 when he was appointed as Art Master of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. Through his brother Edmund, Gabriel got to know Ivan Peries which then led to him being invited to join the ’43 Group.
Gabriel worked first under Ivan Peiries and then under Harry Pieris with whom he shared a lifelong master-pupil relationship.
Following the introduction to Ivan Peries, a war-effort exhibition was organized by the Information Department in which Gabriel exhibited four works and won four prizes.
His religious background explains many phases of his work such as the bas-relief ‘Stations of the Cross’ at St. Therese’s Thimbirigasyaya; ‘The Risen Christ’ carving at the Jesuit Chapel in Bambalapitiya; the eight and a half foot high Madonna carving at the National Seminary Ampitiya, Kandy; murals at Christ the King in Pannipitiya and the Book of Etchings dedicated to death; named ‘The Cross’. The book published in 1975, ‘The Cross’ has 33 numbered copies – one for each life of Christ’s life on earth.
Gabriels work was always connected with ‘tranquil landscape in which people blended with the rich environment’. His work depicted quality of life which was gracious and was deeply dedicated to tradition. Strong, brisk drawing with energetic colour were key trademarks of his work. Geoff Beling once stated that Gabriel was ‘A consistent worker, always drawing and painting, maintaining his own vision and expression in terms of life of Ceylon’ (Weeraratne, 1993; 97).
In 1952 Richard Gabriel won a British Council scholarship and enrolled at the Chelsea School of Art, London where he also travelled to Paris and participated at the ’43 Group’s exhibition.
In recognition of his capability to record the beauty and significance of everyday life in a vivid pallette and idiom, Gabriel was awarded honorary membership in 1964 at the Florentine art Academy – founded in 1564 in honour of Michelangelo in recognition of his graphic work.
It is important to note that throughout his life time, Gabriel’s work ‘remained unchanged’ as mentioned by Professor Dissanayake. Gabriel undoubtadly agreed with this statement as he took pride in being loyal to his beleifs in art as he did in religion.
References: Prof. Dissanayake (2001-9), Weeraratne (1993) and Weeraratne (1999)
| Name of Exhibition | Year | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Ceylon War Effort Pictures | 1943 | Colombo |
| Inaugural Exhibition of the ’43 Group | 1943 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1944 | Colombo |
| Exhibition in memory of Lionel Wendt | 1945 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1945 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1946 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1947 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1948 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1949 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1950 | Colombo |
| Colombo Plan: International Exhibition of Paintings | 1952 | Colombo |
| 43 Group: Contemporary Ceylonese Artists | 1952 | London |
| Artists for Peace Exhibition | 1953 | London |
| 43 Group | 1953 | Paris |
| Some ’43 Group Painters | 1954 | Cambridge |
| 6 Contemporary Ceyloneses Painters | 1954 | Artists International Association Gallery, London |
| 43 Group | 1955 | Colombo |
| 28th Vennice Biennale | 1956 | Vennice |
| 43 Group | 1956 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1956 | Cambridge |
| 43 Group | 1957 | Colombo |
| 29th Vennice Biennale | 1958 | Vennice |
| 43 Group | 1959 | Colombo |
| Fifth International Biennale | 1959 | Sao Paolo, Brazil |
| ‘Ceylon: a painters’ country’ | 1960 | London |
| A Loan Exhibition of Commonwealth Art | 1960 | Norwich Castle Museum, UK |
| CANZA Exhibition of Art | 1961 | Colombo |
| Studio Exhibition I | 1961 | Colombo |
| Studio Exhibition II | 1963 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1964 | Colombo |
| Solo exhibition to mark the Michelangelo award | 1966 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1966 | Colombo |
| Studio Exhibition III | 1967 | Colombo |
| Mostra Internationale della Grafia | 1968 | Florence |
| Joint Exhibition – with Ivan Peries | 1969 | Colombo |
| International Exhibition of Graphic Art | 1974 | USA |
| The Art of Sri Lanka: Contemporary Works on Paper | 1980 | New Orleans, USA |
| Solo Exhibition | 1981 | Colombo |
| 43 Group | 1985 | London |
| 43 Group | 1987 | London |
| Solo Exhibition | 1988 | Kandy |
| 43 Group exhibition to honor George Keyt | 1991 | Colombo |
| Private Exhibition | 1994 | Melbourne, Australia |
| Retrospective Exhibition | 1996 | Colombo |
| Reflections: a retrospective Exhibition | 1997 | Colombo |
| Solo Exhibition of the art of Richard Gabriel 27 June – 7 July | 2014 | Alliance Francais, Kandy |
| ‘Collection 43’ – Open Exhibition 10 – 12th June | 2016 | Sapumal Foundation, Colombo |
| Collectors’ Desk – ARTRA Magazine and Saskia Fernando Gallery – Exhibition of works of the ’43 Group 11th August | 2017 | One Galle Face, Colombo |
| Exhibition of the ’43 Group and Other Artists by The Taprobane Collection 20 – 22 October | 2017 | Nelum Arts Centre, Colombo |
| Name of Book | Year of Publication | Author | Printer |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Art of Richard Gabriel | 1999 | Neville Weereratne | Moosajees, Colombo |
Other Publicaitons the Artist has been mentioned in | |||
| Art in Sri Lanka – The Anton Wickramasinghe Collection | 1988 | Albert Dharmasiri | ANCL – Lake House |
| Modern Sri Lankan Painters | 1992 | George Keyt Foundation | Siri Printers |
| 43 Group | 1993 | Neville Weereratne | Lantana Publishing |
| Visions of an Island – Rare works from Sri Lanka in The Christopher Ondaatje Collection | 1999 | Neville Weereratne | Harper Collins Publishers Ltd |
| The Presidential Collection – Contemporary Sri Lankan Art | 2008 | Presidential Secretariat | |
| Sri Lankan Painting in the 20th Century | 2009 | Senake Bandaranayake and Albert Dharmasiri | The Nationl Trust Sri Lanka |
| Artful Resistance – Contemporary Art from Sri Lanka | 2010 | Edited by Sylvia S. Kasprycki and Doris I Stambra | SKF Publishers |
| Supplement to the Sapumal Foundation | 2018 | Rohan De Soysa | The Sapumal Foundation |
| The Heritage I, II, III | Albert Dharmasiri | R. Rajamahendran | |
Ref :GB 1
Title :Red Road
Signed :Top Middle
Year :1942
Measurements in Cms :31 x 39
Material Used :Oil on Jute
Ref :GB 2
Title :A day in the Village
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1948
Measurements in Cms :66 x 51
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 4
Title :Ten Wise & Foolish Virgins
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1969
Measurements in Cms :90 x 59.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 194
Title :Fishermen on the Beach
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1970’s
Measurements in Cms :50 x 66
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 13
Title :Ten Wise & Foolish Virgins
Signed :-
Year :1970’s
Measurements in Cms :66 x 49
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 73
Title :Struggle with Bull
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1970’s
Measurements in Cms :20.5 x 29.5
Material Used :Water Colour on Paper
Ref :GB 13
Title :Ten Wise & Foolish Virgins
Signed :-
Year :1970’s
Measurements in Cms :66 x 49
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 193
Title :The Goat Head
Signed :Right Upper
Year :1974
Measurements in Cms :86 x 49
Material Used :Oil on Canvas Board
Ref :GB 17
Title :The Harvest
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1978
Measurements in Cms :20 x 22
Material Used :Pastel & Water Colour on Paper
Ref :GB 6
Title :Lost at Sea
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1980
Measurements in Cms :47.5 x 54.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 15
Title :Fishermen Resting
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1980’s
Measurements in Cms :25 x 31
Material Used :Pastel on Paper
Ref :GB 18
Title :Farmer & Buffalos in the Field
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1980’s
Measurements in Cms :20.5 x 31.5
Material Used :Water Colour & Ink on Paper
Ref :GB 9
Title :Christ Nailed to the Cross
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1990
Measurements in Cms :59.5 x 90
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 21
Title :The Village Couple
Signed :Lower Right
Year :1991
Measurements in Cms :21 x 30
Material Used :Egg Tempera on Card
Ref :GB 10
Title :Fishermen at work
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1992
Measurements in Cms :25 x 30.5
Material Used :Water Colour on Paper
Ref :GB 108
Title :The Goat Herd
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2000
Measurements in Cms :29 x 18.5
Material Used :Pastel on Paper
Ref :GB 100
Title :Muhudu Malu
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2004
Measurements in Cms :64.5 x 44.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 101
Title :Noosing Deer
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2004
Measurements in Cms :39 x 63.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 99
Title :Redemptive Christ
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2005
Measurements in Cms :76 x 60.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 104
Title :Wise & Foolish Virgins
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2005
Measurements in Cms :75 x 99
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 199
Title :The Nativity
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2005
Measurements in Cms :102 x 76
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 119
Title :Entry into Jerusalem
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2006
Measurements in Cms :74.5 x 99.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 120
Title :Ascension
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2006
Measurements in Cms :98.5 x 74.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 127
Title :Multiplication of Fishes & Loaves
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2006
Measurements in Cms :75 x 100
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 128
Title :Marriage Feast & Kana
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2006
Measurements in Cms :75.5 x 101
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 130
Title :Girl with Bird
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2007
Measurements in Cms :61.5 x 39
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 131
Title :Adam & Eve
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2007
Measurements in Cms :74.5 x 49.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 132
Title :Apocalypse
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2007
Measurements in Cms :75 x 50
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 135
Title :Fighting Bull
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2008
Measurements in Cms :56.5 x 64
Material Used :Oil on Jute on Canvas
Ref :GB 5
Title :Villagers at Evening
Signed :Lower Left
Year :1949
Measurements in Cms :54 x 77.5
Material Used :Oil on Canvas
Ref :GB 44
Title :Men at Work
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :30.5 x 20
Material Used :Woodcut on Chinese hand made paper
Ref :GB 60
Title :Holy Family
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :30.5 x 21 x 15.5
Material Used :Woodcut on Chinese Hand Made Paper
Ref :GB 153
Title :The Dachshund Litter
Signed :Lower Right
Measurements in Cms :22 x 30
Material Used :Coloured Wood Cut
Ref :GB 155
Title :The Good Samaritan
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :34.5 x 18
Material Used :Wood Cut
Ref :GB 156
Title :Sand Mining
Signed :Lower Left
Measurements in Cms :39 x 25
Material Used :Wood Cut
Ref :GB 31
Title :A Herd of Deer
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :19.5 x 17
Ref :GB 45
Title :The Peace Dove
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :14 x 9
Ref :GB 47
Title :The Boy Flute Player
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :13 x 9
Ref :GB 65
Title :Goat & Two Youth
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :12.5 x 18
Ref :GB 66
Title :Turtles
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :12.5 x 19.5
Ref :GB 67
Title :Prancing Bull
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :20 x 22
Ref :GB 68
Title :Two Deer
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching on English hand made Paper
Dimensions in Cms. :10 x15
Ref :GB 147
Title :Dancers
Signed :Lower Left
Material Used :Etching
Dimensions in Cms. :19 x 24
Ref :1
Title :Jesus Before Pilate
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21.5 x 12.5
Ref :2
Title :Jesus Carrying our Cross
Signed :Lower Left
Year :16.5 x 14
Ref :3
Title :Jesus Falls the First Time
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21 x 11.5
Ref :4
Title :Jesus Meets His Mother
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21 x 11.5
Ref :5
Title :Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21 x 12.5
Ref :6
Title :Gabriel – Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21.75 x 12.5
Ref :7
Title :Jesus Falls the Second Time
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21 x 12.75
Ref :8
Title :Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21 x 13
Ref :9
Title :Jesus Falls the Third Time
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :13.25 x 11.5
Ref :12
Title :Jesus Dies on the Cross
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :23.5 x 12.5
Ref :13
Title :Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :13 x 23
Ref :14
Title :Jesus is Taken to the Sepulchre
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :19 x 12.5
Ref :15
Title :Resurrection
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :22 x 15
Ref :10
Title :Jesus is Stripped Off His Garments
Signed :Lower Left
Dimensions in Cms. :21.25 x 13
