Background
Richter was born in Dresden as the son of a theologian and studied theology himself, becoming tutor to the young Alexander Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse.
Richter was born in Dresden as the son of a theologian and studied theology himself, becoming tutor to the young Alexander Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse.
His appointment as tutor gave him the opportunity to travel around Europe and he became interested in Italian art He wrote for Baedecker tourist guides and met Giovanni Morelli in 1876, who he later introduced to Bernard Berenson. He moved to London in 1877 and wrote several catalogues of art, but is chiefly remembered today for his work on the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.