Ernest Higgins Rigg Paintings

This early 20th-century oil painting by British artist Ernest Higgins Rigg (1868-1947) depicts a view in Swaledale, Yorkshire, with a sunset. While in Paris training at the Académie Julian, Rigg became influenced by the French Impressionists. He embraced their passion for painting outdoors, their rapid brushwork, and their obsession for capturing the fleeting effects of light. However, back in Britain, the formal art scene was less welcoming of the new French approach, so he found himself caught between two worlds. Looking back across his body of works, there’s a clear division between his finer traditional British paintings and his looser ‘plein air’ rural daubs. Here we see an example of the latter - an electrifying sunset amid a changeable overcast sky, captured in swift impressionistic marks. Within a few minutes, the light probably altered, changing the view entirely. Rigg worked quickly to record the moment impressing upon us a brilliant orange light cutting through the clouds - akin to a fireball. On the reverse, hidden under a board, we discovered an old label with a handwritten inscription. It refers to a hymn by the Reverend Godfrey Thring, which Rigg has associated with this view. The radiant morn hath passed away, And spent too soon her golden store; The shadows of departing day Creep on once more. Our life is but an autumn sun, Its glorious noon how quickly past; Lead us, O Christ, our life-work done, Safe home at last. O by thy soul-inspiring grace Uplift our hearts to realms on high; Help us to look to that bright place Beyond the sky, A-men. Where light, and life, and joy, and peace In undivided empire reign, And thronging angels never cease Their deathless strain; Where saints are clothed in spotless white, And evening shadows never fall, Where thou, eternal Light...