Sir John Richardson’s Beautiful New York Loft Hits the Market for $7.2 Million

A portrait of Richardson by Andy Warhol sits prominently in the living room of his home on Fifth Avenue. Photo: Oberto Gili

Late art historian and Pablo Picasso biographer Sir John Richardson’s lavish Manhattan loft has hit the market for $7.2 million.

Located a block from Union Square, the full-floor unit is perched within a 1906 limestone-faced beauty, occupying what was once a dance rehearsal studio. Richardson, who passed away in March at age 95, purchased the 5,400-square-foot space some 25 years ago, enlisting architect Ernesto Buch to create a light-filled residence equipped with two bedrooms, two and a half baths, a library, gallery, and spacious studio.

Brimming with Richardson’s extensive collection of books, magazines, antiques, and personal works of art, the home boasts classical touches like intricate crown moldings and mahogany doorways topped with crisp white pediments. The walls are bathed in splashy hues, including turquoise in the studio and persimmon in the reception gallery.

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The elegant dwelling is prominently featured in John Richardson: At Home, which was released just weeks after his death. Written by Richardson with an introduction by James Reginato, the Rizzoli tome chronicles the art historian’s elegant estates, from his château in the South of France to his country retreat in Connecticut, along with other places that have shaped his life and his aesthetic, such as the Stowe School in Buckingham, England.

The classical library is lined with books and choice antiques. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

According to the New York Times, at the time of his death Richardson was at work on the fourth—and final—volume of his series A Life of Picasso. (A team of editors is currently finishing the book, which is slated to be released next fall by Penguin Random House.)

Richardson was a personal friend of Picasso’s, having met the legendary artist in 1948. He was also head of Christie’s New York office from 1973 to 1982 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. In addition, the Times reveals that Richardson’s significant art and design holdings—among them works by Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Lucian Freud—will hit the auction block in 2020.

See below for a peek inside the refined residence.

The persimmon-hued gallery features marble busts and a collection of Richardson’s scarves. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

A portrait of Richardson by Andy Warhol is a highlight of one of the living room’s walls. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

A full view of the studio with turquoise walls. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

Richardson’s antique campaign desk in his studio. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

The studio’s scarlet-canopied daybed. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

The dining room. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

Moroccan tiles line the master bath. Photo: Joel Pitra/DDReps/Compass

The home is listed with Jeffrey Stockwell, Jill Bernard, and Alan Shaker of Compass.