Robert Riggs Art
American, 1896-1970
Known for his scenes of prize-fighting and circus-genre, Robert Riggs had a highly successful career as an artist, especially in the ‘30s and ‘40s. His painting, The Brown Bomber, showed the boxing victory of Joe Louis over Max Schmeling. This is one of the paintings that earned Riggs election to the National Academy of Design in 1946. He was born in Decatur, Illinois, and as a young man ran away from home and joined the circus. He studied at the James Milliken University in Illinois and then trained at the Art Students League in New York, but his study was interrupted by Army service in the First World War. He attended the Académie Julian in Paris and then returned to the United States where he settled in Philadelphia and worked for N. W. Ayer & Sons, an advertising agency for whom he did numerous illustrations.
to
2
6
11
3
1
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
22
6
11
3
1
10
10
2
21
14
6
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
6
6
5
3
22
9,466
2,689
1,375
1,359
3
22
Artist: Robert Riggs
Prospector firing Rifle ( Happiness is a Warm Gun ) Gay Art
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel ( composite wood panel )
Robert Riggs was a gay man. Being gay in American during the 1940's time was something not to flaunt in public. Rigg's had to communicate his underlying feelings in more symbolic ways.
Throughout Riggs' oeuvre, one sees continuous references to strong hunked out manly men and vulnerable boys. It is a core element of is iconography and is described in a powerful graphic style.
In “Prospector firing Rifle,” there is a Dick Pic. Riggs is clearly making a sexual statement about the moment of climax. The long, straight rifle explodes and is captured at the moment of its peak climax. Meanwhile, the two bags of gold clearly resemble the other part of the male anatomy. Riggs was a thoughtful and meticulous visual thinker, and nothing in any of Riggs’s compositions was haphazardly placed. In tribute to the artist’s suppressed feelings, I have given this work a second title “Happiness is a Warm Gun...
Category
1940s Academic Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
Grizzly Adams, Grizzly bear attacks Frontiersman
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
There is a reason why there are few contemporary painters who can paint a portrait of a man and bear this good. It's hard to do. It's easy to throw some paint or spray a mess of graf...
Category
1950s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Mixed Media, Graphite
Tribesmen with Headdresses - Gay Artist
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
"Riggs openly identified as gay to his friends in the Philadelphia art community, but did not disclose his orientation to his employers." - Woodmere Art Museum
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel
"Robert Riggs was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence by the New York Art Directors Club for ten consecutive years and received many additional awards." He was elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts and the U.S. Library of Congress. Riggs's compositons are "monumental" Walt Reed Riggs was a Gay Artist...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
'Children's Ward' — Socially-Conscious Realism
By Robert Riggs
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Robert Riggs, 'Children's Ward', 2-color lithograph, c. 1940, edition c. 50, Beall 11, Bassham 76. Signed, titled, and numbered '14' in pencil. Signed in the stone, lower right. A su...
Category
1940s Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Lithograph
Mongols
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel
There is from frame burn and scattered surface abrasions but they are minor. Additionally, there are a 3 or 4 very fine hair line scratches not visible unless you look very closely. The work is varnished and has a reflective quality to it that makes it hard to photograph. In person the viewing experience is much better. You can see more detail in the shadow areas. The colors are rich, deep and saturated. Riggs was very particular in researching the tribal costumes...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
$26,000 Sale Price
23% Off
The Burr - Hamilton Duel
By Robert Riggs
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil Painting
Signature: Signed Lower Right
Category
20th Century Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
MODEL
By Robert Riggs
Located in Portland, ME
Riggs, Robert (American, 1896-1970). MODEL (Bassham 8). Lithograph, c. 1932. Unsigned. 11 x 8 3/4 inches (image), 13 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (sheet). In very good condition.
Category
1930s Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Lithograph
'Psychopathic Ward' — Socially-Conscious Realism
By Robert Riggs
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Robert Riggs, 'Psychopathic Ward', 2-color lithograph, c. 1940, edition c. 50, Beall 60, Bassham 78. Signed, titled, and numbered '14' in pencil. Signed in the stone, lower right. A ...
Category
1940s Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Lithograph
"The Knockout" Boxing Sports American Watercolor WPA Mid-Century Modern 30s/40s
By Robert Riggs
Located in New York, NY
"The Knockout" Boxing Sports American Watercolor WPA Mid-Century Modern 30s/40s.
Robert Riggs (1896-1970)
The Knockout
22 x 30 inches watercolor on paper
Signed lower right
Framed: ...
Category
1930s American Modern Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Robert Riggs Original Lithograph, Boxing Subject “Trial Horse”
By Robert Riggs
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Boxing subject original stone lithograph by Robert Riggs (1896-1970)
Pencil titled lower left “Trial Horse”
Pencil signed lower right “Robert Riggs”
Image measures 13 1/2" H x 17 1/2...
Category
1930s Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Paper
Robert Riggs Original Stone Lithograph, Boxing Subject “Afternoon at Max’s”
By Robert Riggs
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Boxing subject original stone lithograph by Robert Riggs (1896-1970)
Pencil titled lower left “Afternoon at Max’s”
Pencil signed lower right “Robert Riggs”
Image measures 15 1/8"h x ...
Category
1930s Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Paper
George Washington Marine Procession New York Presidential Inauguration, Life Mag
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
"The Great Man Comes to Take His Oath" Life Magazine Spread, July 4th, 1960, This epic narrative depicts the celebration of George Washington's inauguration, en route to Federal Hall...
Category
1930s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
$92,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Young girl Redhead Holding her father's hand Illustration
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
There is a reason why there are few contemporary painters who can paint a portrait this good. It's hard to do. It's easy to throw some paint or spray a mess of graffiti on canvas. ...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
New York City Police Fortune Magazine Illustration
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
This original illustration, titled "Cops at Ease in the Muster Room of a Station," accompanied the article Nineteen Thousand Cops published in the July 1939 issue of Fortune Magazine. This issue was dedicated to the city of New York and included a total of ten paintings by Riggs for this article on New York City's police department. Robert Riggs was a gay artist.
Category
1930s Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Charcoal, Archival Paper
Indian sacrificial ceremony - Aztec Human Sacrifice
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
The sacrificial ceremony, Freemans The Collection of Philip Desind Signed Three times Riggs l.r. A powerful account of moments a tribe member is cut open and the heart is handed over to a young brave,
There is a reason why there are few contemporary painters who can paint a portrait this good. It's hard to do. It's easy to throw some paint or spray a mess of graffiti on canvas. That's easy. To execute a portrait with a great depth of anatomy and structure takes years of academic training. In Riggs's time there were teachers who knew how to pass on this knowledge. He studied at the Art Students League and the Académie Julian . Today, they are very few and far between. - Robert Riggs was a Gay Artist...
Category
1950s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Indian Ritual Walking on Fire, Firewalking Ceremony, Mythology and Religion
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
Narrative artist Robert Riggs captures a highly-charged scene of an Indian firewalking ceremony. Firewalking is part of a religious ritual and is associated with the mystical powers...
Category
1950s Academic Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Varnish, Pigment
Young girl Redhead Holding her father's hand
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
There is a reason why there are few contemporary painters who can paint a portrait this good. It's hard to do. It's easy to throw some paint or spray a mess of graffiti on canvas. That's easy art. Executing a portrait with a great depth of anatomy and structure takes years of academic training. In Riggs's time, there were teachers who knew how to pass on this knowledge. He studied at the Art Students League and the Académie Julian . Today, they are very few and far between. Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel - Robert Riggs was a Gay Artist...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
Tribesmen with Headdresses
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
"Robert Riggs was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence by the New York Art Directors Club for ten consecutive years and received many additional awards." He was elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts and the U.S. Library of Congress. Riggs's compositons are "monumental" Walt Reed - work is unframed. - Riggs was a Gay Artist.
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
Filling the Biggest Lumber Order on Record
By Robert Riggs
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Date: 1946
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 20.25" x 18.25"
Signature: Signed Lower Right
Exhibitions: September 2007: Society of Illustrators
Category
1940s Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Paper, Oil
Tribesmen with Headdresses - Photo Realism
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel
"Robert Riggs was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence by the New York Art Directors Club for ten consecutive years and received many additional awards." He was elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts and the U.S. Library of Congress. Riggs's compositons are "monumental" Walt Reed Riggs was a Gay Artist...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
Ringing of the Bell
By Robert Riggs
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Ringing of the Bell
Robert Riggs was a painter and a lithographer of monumental compositions, yet achieved his effects through meticulous means. In lithography, he worked from black...
Category
20th Century Other Art Style Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil, Panel
Tribesmen with Headdresses
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel
"Robert Riggs was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence by the New York Art Directors Club for ten consecutive years and received many additional awards." He was elected to the Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts and the U.S. Library of Congress. Riggs's compositons are "monumental" Walt Reed Riggs was a Gay Artist...
Category
1940s American Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Tempera
Related Items
Afghan Girl iconic poster: Sharbat Gula, Pakistan (Hand Signed by Steve McCurry)
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry
Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl, Pakistan (Hand Signed), 1984
Offset Lithograph poster
Hand signed by the photographer in black felt pen on the front
24 × 20 inches
Unframed...
Category
1980s Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Felt Pen, Lithograph, Offset
Pierre Montezin large French Impressionist painting harvesting scene and poplars
By PIERRE EUGÈNE MONTEZIN, 1874 - 1946
Located in Harkstead, GB
Montezin's dazzling display of brushwork captures the effects of the sunlight on the water and the glittering leaves of the poplar trees. A masterwork by the artist presented in the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
$33,545
H 28.5 in W 28.5 in D 3 in
Solothman on the Aase, Switzerland
By Eugene Schmidt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Eugene Schmidt (German/American, 1919-2007)
Title: Solothman on the Aase, Switzerland
Year: Circa 1970
Medium: Oil on canvas board
Board size: 10 x 8 inches
Signature...
Category
Late 20th Century Academic Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
19th Century Roman Landscape oil on canvas with Giltwood Frame
Located in Rome, IT
Amaizing 19' century Roman landscape depicting a part of Villa Borghese with Trinità dei Monti.
With a finely carved gilt wood coeval frame.
Measurements with frame cm 65 x78 wit...
Category
19th Century Old Masters Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
$5,323
H 25.6 in W 30.71 in D 1.97 in
Owen Waters, Impressionist landscape, circle of Edward Seago
Located in Harkstead, GB
A wonderful example of the artist's work depicting an idyllic scene in the Norfolk countryside.
Owen Waters (1916-2004)
Norfolk pastures
Signed
Oil on board
12 x 16 inches excluding...
Category
Late 20th Century Impressionist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil, Board
$915 Sale Price
37% Off
H 12 in W 16 in D 1.5 in
View on the Governor’s Palace in Paramaribo, Surinam
Located in Amsterdam, NL
GOVERT VAN EMMERIK (1808-1882)
View on the Governor’s Palace in Paramaribo, Surinam
Signed and dated 1856
Oil on canvas, 70 x 90 cm
In large gilt...
Category
19th Century Naturalistic Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$41,408
H 27.56 in W 35.44 in D 1.97 in
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Small White Sheep Lying Down
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922)
graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed
artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches
Provenance: private collection
Condition: very good condition
Ha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Chalk, Graphite
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Horse Drinking at The Water Hole
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922)
graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed
artist paper : 7 x 5.5 inches
Provenance: private collection
Condition: very good condition
Ha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Chalk, Graphite
British Chalk Pencil Sketch of Cows Resting In the Meadow
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
John Rabone Harvey ( 1966 - 1922)
graphic and chalk deep green artist paper , unframed
artist paper : 5.5 x 7 inches
Provenance: private collection
Condition: very good condition
Ha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Graphite, Chalk
Vintage David Hockney Poster Miami New World Festival of Arts 1982 palm trees
By David Hockney
Located in New York, NY
This vintage David Hockney poster features whimsical imagery and rich, bright color. Palm trees, boats in the ocean, a cafe, and a bodega with an elaborate iron-wrought balcony sit a...
Category
1980s Realist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Lithograph
John Berney Ladbrooke, 19th Century oil painting of a river landscape
By John Berney Ladbrooke
Located in Harkstead, GB
A most attractive painting with an extensive view towards a church tower, just as a rain shower is approaching. The picture includes a charming little figure group of a mother holdin...
Category
Mid-19th Century Victorian Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Panel, Oil
$1,677
H 14.5 in W 12 in D 2 in
'Agay, le château et le Sémaphore'. Oil on canvas. Signed.
By Armand Guillaumin
Located in Paris, FR
'Agay, le château et le Sémaphore'.
Oil on canvas. +/- 1922
Signed lower right
Measurements : 60 x 73 cm.
This painting will be recorded in the second volume of the Catalogue Raisonn...
Category
1920s Impressionist Robert Riggs Art
Materials
Oil
$164,451
H 23.63 in W 28.75 in
Robert Riggs art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Robert Riggs art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Robert Riggs in paint, tempera, oil paint and more. Not every interior allows for large Robert Riggs art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Spencer Douglass Crockwell, Fletcher Martin, and Ernest Hamlin Baker. Robert Riggs art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $875 and tops out at $92,000, while the average work can sell for $75,000.