A portrait of the late Dr John Richards outside No 8 University Gardens at the University of Glasgow

UofG's History of Art has dedicated its newly-revamped Resource Centre and integral postgraduate space, at 7 University Gardens, to the memory of Dr John Richards, Senior Lecturer in History of Art, who passed away in 2022.

Dr Richards, an expert in late medieval and Renaissance art, was a much‑loved teacher, adviser, and colleague. He published the first book in English on the Italian Trecento artist Altichiero and served twice as Head of the History of Art.

The dedication was marked after a History of Art Research Seminar, held on Tuesday 18 November. 

University of Glasgow 's Honorary Senior Research Fellow in History of Art, Dr Minna Katrina Törmä, delivered a paper entitled Exploring E. A. Hornel’s garden ideas through the lens of object itinerary. This introduced her new edited volume Plants and Gardens as Artefacts in Transcultural Contexts Between Asia and Europe, and examined the cultural biography of the so‑called Japanese garden at Broughton House in Kirkcudbright.

A group of people look into the camera with one of them holding a sign which says Dr John Corley Richards History of Art Resource Centre

The event was organised by friends and colleagues of Dr Richards including Professor Clare Willsdon and Dr Patricia de Montfort. Professor Robert Gibbs, a former member of the History of Art Subject Area and Dr Richards' doctoral supervisor, along with Dr Törmä placed a nameplate in his memory on the door of the Resource Centre, which the Subject hopes shortly to re-open for Postgraduate use.

Professor Willsdon said: "The dedication was a very special event. John himself studied at the University, and used the Resource Centre both as a student and then later as one of our academic staff. Revamping the Centre has taken a little while, but John cared very deeply about our students' academic progress and wider wellbeing, and we feel very proud to have this important space for student study now associated with his name."

Professor Diana Presciutti, Head of History of Art, said: “We in History of Art are thrilled to see the realisation of the Resource Centre after years of hard work on the part of Dr Patricia de Montfort and Professor Clare Willsdon. The dedication of this wonderful space ensures that Dr John Richards’ legacy as a scholar and mentor will continue to inspire future generations of students and researchers."

At the event, Dr de Montfort read from a letter found in the Resource Centre collections, by Professor Andrew McLaren Young, the first head of History of Art. As well as Professor McLaren Young's letter, also on display at the dedication event were a selection of documents about the history of the department as well as catalogues and books curated to celebrate History of Art at Glasgow, which was set up nearly 80 years ago in 1948. Dr de Montfort said she hoped "this space becomes the heart of our subject again"  and as "John, I feel, was the heart of things as both a student and member of staff and colleague for so many years, it just feels very appropriate to have this complex named after him".

Professor Gibbs paid tribute to Dr Richards as a "great friend, colleague and teacher" and he added that the opening of the new Dr John Corley Richards History of Art Resource Centre at University Gardens was a "great omen for the future" of the subject.

A plaque on a door which says Dr John Corley Richards History of Art Resource Centre

 

First published: 9 December 2025

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