His paintings are cherished in the collections of celebrated dignitaries and artists including Martha Graham , Jackie Kennedy Onassis , Harry Belafonte , Romare Bearden , Senator Edward Brooke , Ivan Lendl , Prime Minister Raffarin , and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands , as well as many corporate leaders and progressive entrepreneurs .
In addition to his special realm of artistry , Sir Richardson has continued to devote his personal investment of time , energy and resources to the preservation of St . Martin ’ s patrimony in many other realms . For fourteen years , he diligently researched and documented many facets of St . Martin ’ s history , as founding Editorin-Chief of the popular island magazine , Discover St . Martin-St . Maarten . His articles called forth professional archeologists from Europe and the Caribbean , to help uncover the island ’ s past and preserve it for the future .
His interviews with our elders have forever recorded the times of old , that made way for the new . Richardson ’ s devotion to the restoration of historic sites is best known for his decade-long commitment in the 1980 ’ s to the restoration of Fort Louis , overlooking Marigot Harbor . Here , he worked tirelessly , encouraging other volunteers from the community , to work together , to clear the steep path , grown tall with cacti , to revisit the site , to reassemble the building ’ s artifacts , including its ancient canons , which were finally airlifted from all points on the island to be returned to their historic setting . They wrote the history , made plaques , built the same stairs that thousands of people have climbed to this magnificent overlook . Through his vision , the lights on Ft . Louis were first lit at night , for all to see .
Other restoration projects include the reconstruction of the original bridge in Grand Case , just recently completed , based on the beautiful monument created by his great uncle , Gaston Richardson in early 1920 ’ s .
Also , open to the public since 1998 , the Old Marie at # 6 rue de la Republique , greets international visitors and the entire local community , including regular tours by young students , to experience this 19th century Creole townhouse , fully restored , with a beautiful hidden courtyard garden , and surrounded by 18th century stone architecture that date back to pre-French Revolution as the original barracks for the French soldiers , who came to build Ft . Louis . It is now home to an on-going magnificent collection of Sir Roland ’ s treasured creations , a point where art , culture , nature and history all converge at Roland Richardson Gallery Museum .
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