Heavenly Mist, by Gerard Richardson, Favorite of JFK.

The sinking of PT 109 by the Japanese destroyer, The Heavenly Mist, hung in President Kennedys reception room in the White House. JFK had commanded the PT 109 during WWII. This oil now hangs in the JFK Library.

Water Color Painting by Gerard Richardson. Courtesy of Autry Family Collection

Gerard Richardson, did many oils including the famous Heavenly Mist which hung in the John Kennedy White House and is now in the JFK Museum.

He did not do many oils. One is the delightful rendering of the Spanish Navy Tall Ship, the El Cano, which is shown here from the private collection of Allen and Dee Autry, Sr.

Syracuse University Papers on Gerard Richardson, Naval Artist

Syracuse University has a great deal of information on Gerard Richardson. There are over 100 pages about his works and life, most of which centered around Washington DC.

Facts on the Great Naval Artist, Gerard Richardson

Gerard Richardson (born New York, NY, 1910-1971) was a painter and designer.

Gerard Richardson has been generally recognized by art critics as one of the most important naval artists of the twentieth century. Who's Who in American Art (New York: R. R. Bowker, 1973)

His famous painting "Heavenly Mist" which was a rendering of the sinking by a Japananese destroyer named The Morning Mist of the PT Boat 109 which bore President Kennedy during World War II was a favorite of the President and remained in the White House until the assassination of President Kennedy. Currently the work is in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. See picture of "Heavenly Mist". [1].

Richardson gained much fame as he did many of the colorful covers for the "The Motor Boating Magazine", a Hearst publication. The original paintings from which these covers were copied hang in the Hearst World Headquarters in New York and are not for sale.

Many of Richardson's work were commissioned by Yacht Clubs and several are owned by individual sportsmen, who are not interested in selling, thus his works although highly valued are seldom on the market.

Richardson generally signed his oil paintings in upper case letters GERARD RICHARDSON, usually in red, on the lower right hand corner with a year date. If the signature is not such, then it is probably not an original by Richardson. This can be confirmed by the signatures on all of his paintings in the US Naval Museum. His paintings also hang in the Sam Rayburn Congressional Building in Washington DC and in the Lyndon Johnson Presidential Ranch.

Richardson did several large murals in the Washington DC area where he and his wife lived after World War II. Only one water color is known to have been done by him, "El Cano", which is in a private collection.

Often a mistaken identity has occurred because another artist with the same name who works in the film industry named Gerard Richardson and who sometimes paints as Gerry Richardson has had some of his paintings unintentionally mis-identified as belonging to Captain Gerard Richardson.

Richardson was a Commander, later Captain in the Navy during World War II Many of his paintings of famous ships and naval battles reside in the U. S. Naval Museum, but unsigned prints may be bought of such works directly from the U.S.Naval Museum.

Gerard Richardson mostly did original paintings, on a commission basis. There are few signed prints ever authorized by him. However, he did many prints of naval ships during World War II for the sailors of such ships. Because of a lack of such prints in circulation, combined with the non-for-sale collections of art patrons, various Museums and of the Hearst Corporation collection, his works are in limited circulation. The lack opportunity for purchase of his works combined with his early death at age 61 in 1971 has limited the wide spread holdings of this remarkable artist.

Source: Who's Who in American Art (New York: R. R. Bowker, 1973):

Work in Public Collections: French Naval Club, Paris; National Naval Memorial Museum, Washington, DC; Admiral Jerauld Wright Building; Norfolk Naval Base; Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch; Sam Rayburn Library, Texas; plus others

Commissions: Large oil painting, The (PT) 109, Kennedy Library Art Interests: Portrayal of nautical, sports car, and air activities, historical combat scenes and all-subject murals

The Smithsonian Museum library's extensive pamphlet files includes an undated cv, which appears to have been submitted by the artist. Following are excerpts:

"...Gerard Richardson was born in New York City in 1910 of a long line of U.S. born citizens, but was educated in Europe. He studied art at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and while traveling in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and England.

He was established in Paris until World War II as a professional artist and illustrator, specializing in a wide variety of subjects. His nautical paintings were very well known and have been reproduced in magazines in Italy, France and England. They also hang in appropriate places such as homes of international sportsmen and major yacht clubs in those countries. The same can be said of his portrayals of sports car activities.

The University of Syracuse has a special collection of his papers and copies of some of his art works.

The many originals, which were used for covers of the American publication, The Motor Boating Magazine, now hang on the walls of the Hearst Buildings in New York City.

His work has been exhibited in many places in Europe, in New York City and at the Truxtan-Decatur Naval Museum, the Navy Department and the Pentagon, in Washington D.C. It has been marketed by the Knoedler and the Norton Galleries on 57th Street in New York and at the Venables Gallery on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D. C.

Serving in the USNR in World War II (now Captain) he was awarded two citations, with combat insignia, which refer to his professional ability.

Captain Richardson's last tour of duty was with the U.S. Navy Combat Art Branch of the Office of the Chief of Information (Public Relations) which has several of his official paintings, as does also the U.S. Naval History Division."