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.
“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...
Oil
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...
Tempera
George Washington Inauguration Oil Painting, 1960, Figurative Scene
By Robert Riggs
Located in Miami, FL
The scene depicts George Washington, en route to Federal Hall in New York City, April 30, 1789, as he arrives at the Battery. The pomp and pageantry with ...
Oil
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...
Mixed Media
$25,000
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...
Varnish, Pigment
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...
Oil
$3,450
H 15 in W 19 in
Impressionist French Harbor or Port with fishing boats at sea landscape
Located in Woodbury, CT
H. Gaulties French, circa 1900 Fishing Boats at Sea Oil on board Signed lower right A lively French Impressionist harbour scene depicting fishing vessels at anchor, their masts an...
Oil, Board
$3,800
H 20.48 in W 23.63 in D 1.58 in
Mythological scene, study for the Prize of Rome 1864, French academism, Homer
Located in Norwich, GB
This rare mythological scene depicting the Greek author Homer on the island of Scyros. You will notice the Trojan War being fought in the background. Our painting, dating from 1864, is unsigned, but has a solid attribution to academic artist Henri-Léopold Lévy...
Canvas, Oil
$1,285
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Landscape 19 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 19 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
$2,500
H 29.5 in W 33.5 in D 2 in
“Crossroads, c. 1940” WPA Polish-American Expressionist Modernist Oil Signed
By Sol Wilson
Located in Yardley, PA
“Crossroads, c. 1940” by Sol Wilson (Polish-American, 1896-1974). This expressive painting by Wilson depicts a moody village crossroads rendered with his signature textured brushwor...
Oil, Board
"Autumn Fully Present" Oil Painting
By Deb Komitor
Located in Denver, CO
Deb Komitor's (US based) "Autumn Fully Present" is an oil painting that depicts a dense thicket with recently fallen orange and yellow leaves carpeting the forest floor Bio/artist s...
Oil
$14,850
H 23.13 in W 19.13 in D 2.5 in
A Fine Victorian Oil on Board Titled "A Lady Standing by a Sundial in the Park"
By Henry John Yeend King
Located in LA, CA
Henry John Yeend King R.B.A, R.I., R.O.I. (British, 1855-1924) "A Victorian Lady Standing by a Sundial in the Park" Oil on panel. Signed lower right: Yeend King. "YK" Sticker en ver...
Oil
$4,400
H 36 in W 48 in
"Coastal Colors" - Impressionist Still-Life of Boats and Marina, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ken Valastro (1954-2014) created dynamic oil paintings characterized by bold color contrasts and vigorous brushwork that captured the energy of urban scenes. His signature style feat...
Oil, Board
$2,042
H 20.13 in W 16.5 in D 1 in
19th C. German painting of figures at a waterfall in the manner of Friedrich
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A very romantic and detailed painting of figures enjoying the views of a waterfall in summertime, Europe Circle of Caspar David Friedrich (German, 1774 – 1840) Elegant company at th...
Canvas, Paper, Oil
$21,000
H 24 in W 35 in
"Sailboats in a Bay" John Ross Key, American Landscape, Skyscape, Maritime Scene
By John Ross Key
Located in New York, NY
John Ross Key Sailboats in a Bay Signed lower right Oil on canvas 15 x 26 inches Provenance Private collection, St. Simon's Island, Georgia Private Collection, by descent Private Co...
Canvas, Oil
"Ham Rock" Oil Painting
By Mark Harrison
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison's (UK based) "Ham Rock" is an oil painting that depicts an arid landscape with clouds and towering rock formations. Sometimes they are silent epic landscapes of the D...
Linen, Oil
$1,950
H 15 in W 13 in
Mid-Century Impressionist French view of Montmartre, Paris, France
Located in Woodbury, CT
Y. Gonez (French, mid-20th century) Market Scene, Montmartre with Sacré-Cœur, ca. 1950s Oil on canvas, in a Montparnasse-style frame In this lively street scene, Y. Gonez captures t...
Canvas, Oil