[1] In 1722, Richardson published with his son, also Jonathan (1694–1771), An Account of Some of the Statues, Bas-Reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures in Italy (1722).

The book was compiled by Richardson the elder using material gathered by his son whilst touring Italy in 1720.

It was said that the book became the basis for future purchases of art by wealthy collectors and therefore shaped English interest in foreign old masters.

These notes are, in part, a response to Richard Bentley's 1732 edition of Paradise Lost, in which he frequently faults Milton's style or places exceptionable passages in square brackets, claiming they are the work of another hand.

He was also an excellent and prolific draughtsman, and made a number of chalk drawings of friends and family, often using blue paper for them.

He was also survived by his son, Jonathan Richardson the Younger (1694–1771), who was brought up as a gentleman; he dabbled in painting and printmaking.

[4][12] He left a large and valuable collection of 4,749 Old Master drawings which were auctioned by Sotheby's over eighteen days.