Early Life and Influences Sir William Blake Richmond (1809-1896), a celebrated English painter and portraitist, was born on November 28th, 1809, in Brompton, London—a location steeped in artistic tradition. His formative years were profoundly shaped by his association with “The Ancients,” a group of artists and poets passionately devoted to the visionary genius of William Blake. This influential connection is palpable throughout Richmo…