Taprobane Collection

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 ExhibitionYearPlace
Ceylon War Effort Pictures1943Colombo
Inaugural Exhibition of the ’43 Group1943Colombo
43 Group1944Colombo
Exhibition in memory of Lionel Wendt1945Colombo
43 Group1945Colombo
43 Group1946Colombo
43 Group1947Colombo
43 Group1948Colombo
43 Group1949Colombo
43 Group1950Colombo
Colombo Plan: International Exhibition of Paintings1952Colombo
43 Group: Contemporary Ceylonese Artists1952London
Artists for Peace Exhibition1953London
43 Group1953Paris
Some ’43 Group Painters1954Cambridge
6 Contemporary Ceyloneses Painters1954Artists International Association Gallery, London
43 Group1955Colombo
28th Vennice Biennale1956Vennice
43 Group1956Colombo
43 Group1956Cambridge
43 Group1957Colombo
29th Vennice Biennale1958Vennice
43 Group1959Colombo
Fifth International Biennale1959Sao Paolo, Brazil
‘Ceylon: a painters’ country’1960London
A Loan Exhibition of Commonwealth Art1960Norwich Castle Museum, UK
CANZA Exhibition of Art1961Colombo
Studio Exhibition I1961Colombo
Studio Exhibition II1963Colombo
43 Group1964Colombo
Solo exhibition to mark the Michelangelo award1966Colombo
43 Group1966Colombo
Studio Exhibition III1967Colombo
Mostra Internationale della Grafia1968Florence
Joint Exhibition – with Ivan Peries1969Colombo
International Exhibition of Graphic Art1974USA
The Art of Sri Lanka: Contemporary Works on Paper1980New Orleans, USA
Solo Exhibition1981Colombo
43 Group1985London
43 Group1987London
Solo Exhibition1988Kandy
43 Group exhibition to honor George Keyt1991Colombo
Private Exhibition1994Melbourne, Australia
Retrospective Exhibition1996Colombo
Reflections: a retrospective Exhibition1997Colombo
Solo Exhibition of the art of Richard Gabriel 27 June – 7 July2014Alliance Francais, Kandy
‘Collection 43’ – Open Exhibition 10 – 12th June2016Sapumal Foundation, Colombo
Collectors’ Desk – ARTRA Magazine and Saskia Fernando Gallery – Exhibition of works of the ’43 Group 11th August2017One Galle Face, Colombo
Exhibition of the ’43 Group and Other Artists by The Taprobane Collection 20 – 22 October2017Nelum Arts Centre, Colombo
Name of BookYear of PublicationAuthorPrinter
The Art of Richard Gabriel1999Neville WeereratneMoosajees, Colombo

Other Publicaitons the Artist has been mentioned in

Name of BookYear of PublicationAuthorPrinter
Art in Sri Lanka – The Anton Wickramasinghe Collection1988Albert DharmasiriANCL – Lake House
Modern Sri Lankan Painters1992George Keyt FoundationSiri Printers
43 Group1993Neville WeereratneLantana Publishing
Visions of an Island – Rare works from Sri Lanka in The Christopher Ondaatje Collection1999Neville WeereratneHarper Collins Publishers Ltd
The Presidential Collection – Contemporary Sri Lankan Art2008 Presidential Secretariat
Sri Lankan Painting in the 20th Century2009Senake Bandaranayake and Albert DharmasiriThe Nationl Trust Sri Lanka
Artful Resistance – Contemporary Art from Sri Lanka2010Edited by Sylvia S. Kasprycki and Doris I StambraSKF Publishers
Supplement to the Sapumal Foundation2018Rohan De SoysaThe Sapumal Foundation
The Heritage I, II, III Albert DharmasiriR. 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

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