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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.

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Artist: Robert Riggs
Robert Riggs Original Lithograph, Boxing Subject “Trial Horse”
Robert Riggs Original Lithograph, Boxing Subject “Trial Horse”

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

Grizzly Adams,  Grizzly bear attacks Frontiersman

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

'Children's Ward' — Mid-Century Socially-Conscious Realism
'Children's Ward' — Mid-Century Socially-Conscious Realism

'Children's Ward' — Mid-Century 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 '12' in pencil. Signed in the stone, lower right. A su...

Category

1940s Realist Robert Riggs Art

Materials

Lithograph

Tribesmen with Headdresses

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
Filling the Biggest Lumber Order on Record

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

'Psychopathic Ward' — Socially-Conscious Realism
'Psychopathic Ward' — Socially-Conscious Realism

'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

MODEL

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

Indian sacrificial ceremony -   Aztec  Human Sacrifice
Indian sacrificial ceremony -   Aztec  Human Sacrifice

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
Indian Ritual  Walking on Fire,  Firewalking Ceremony,  Mythology and Religion

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

“The Hamilton-Burr Duel, ” illustration for LIFE Magazine

“The Hamilton-Burr Duel, ” illustration for LIFE Magazine

By Robert Riggs

Located in Fort Washington, PA

Illustrating an article about the life of Alexander Hamilton titled “The Duel,” published in LIFE Magazine, July 7, 1947, page 69. The full caption reads: “The Hamilton-Burr Duel, w...

Category

20th Century Robert Riggs Art

Materials

Oil

Tribesmen with Headdresses
Tribesmen with Headdresses

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

Mongols
Mongols

Robert RiggsMongols, 1950s

$26,000Sale Price|23% Off

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

Young girl Redhead Holding her father's hand Illustration

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
New York City Police Fortune Magazine Illustration

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," is packed with character and detail and shows an unexpected and rare vision of the police in an off moment. Riggs unveils the real-life behind-the-scenes in this narrative work, which stylistically flaunts Riggs ' prodigious drawing skills. It 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

Archival Paper, Charcoal

Prospector firing Rifle  ( Happiness is a Warm Gun ) Gay Art
Prospector firing Rifle  ( Happiness is a Warm Gun ) Gay Art

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

Young girl Redhead Holding her father's hand

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  - Gay Artist
Tribesmen with Headdresses  - Gay Artist

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

Tribesmen with Headdresses  - Photo Realism
Tribesmen with Headdresses  - Photo Realism

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
Ringing of the Bell

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

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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.

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