Cloaked in mystery, the female form of Nightfall intrigues us. Concealed is a beautiful face, but like nightfall itself, all is not revealed. The globes in each hand suggest the arrival of night and the passage of day, but also reference the idea to put the past behind us, and open ourselves to the future. Poised on the scythe shaped moon, the figure of Nightfall strides with strength and purpose. Our eye follows the organic curve of the drapery from the top of the head to the base, a device that generates movement in the piece, countering the direction of the stride and creating dramatic visual tension. 

One of Richard’s most beloved sculptures, Nightfall, began as a rough clay study, where the female was dramatically veiled and mostly covered. The work was then refined into a more resolved maquette, ultimately leading to the finished sculpture known today. What makes Nightfall unique is that both the maquette and the refined versions are available within the collection, offering collectors insight into the evolution of the work.