James Humbert Craig

James Humbert Craig (1877-1944) Description: NORTH-EAST WIND ON THE ANTRIM COAST, 1938 signed lower right; with title inscribed on reverse This painting was one of seven works exhibited by the artist at the RHA in 1938. The artist's address is listed in the RHA Index of Exhibitors as Dunedin, Antrim Road, Belfast. It was from this address in 1936 that the Committee of the Ulster Academy of Arts held its inaugural Academians 'At Homes'. During the early 1940s the heavy air raids severely damaged the Antrim Road area of Belfast. The Craigs' home did not escape the bombings and much of their furniture and paintings from this period were destroyed. The year this work was executed, 1938, was the year Craig's first illustrations were published in the text, In Praise of Ulster. The next book he would provide illustrations for, The Corrib Country, would not be printed until five years later. 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in. RHA, 1938, no. 190 [£31-10-0] oil on canvas

James Humbert Craig RHA RUA (1878-1944) Unloading the Nets, Leenane Oil on canvas, 48 x 59cm (19 x 23¼'') Signed Possibly Exhibited: RHA, Dublin, 1928 (183); Four Irish Artists: J. H. Craig, Paul Henry, E. L. Lawrenson, J. Crampton Walker, Fine Art Society, London, March 1928 (68, as Leenane, Connemara); Paintings of Ireland by J. Humbert Craig, RHA, Fine Art Society, London, February-March 1935 (35 as Leenane Harbour, Connemara). Judged stylistically this picture must date from the late 1920s. It seems likely, therefore, that it is the work of this title that Craig exhibited at both the RHA and at the Fine Art Society in 1928, the year he became a full academician of the RHA. Craig worked briskly and reacted directly to the landscape, capturing, in John Hewitt's words, 'the swift notation of the insistent effect, the momentary flicker, the flash of light, the passing shadow,' qualities that are evident here. J. H. Craig painted several compositions of the harbour at Leenane often, as here, catching the light and distant texture of the background hills. Dr. S.B. Kennedy

James Humbert Craig (Irish, 1878-1944) A country lane with figures; A view of a pond (2) first signed 'J.H. Craig' (lower left) and signed and dated '1917' on the reverse; second signed and dated 'J. Humbert Craig 1913' (lower left) first, oil on canvas; second oil on canvas on board first, 20 x 15 1/4in (50.8 x 38.7cm); second, sight 11 1/2 x 15 1/2in (29.2 x 39.3cm)

James Humbert Craig RHA RUA (1877-1944) THE DUN RIVER, CUSHENDUN, COUNTY ANTRIM oil on board signed lower left; with original inscribed John Magee [4 Donegall Square, Belfast] label on reverse detailing artist name, title and reference number [8514.29] 11.75 by 16.5in., 30 by 42cm. John Magee, Belfast; Private collection

James Humbert Craig (Irish, 1878-1944) Rockport, County Down signed 'JH CRAIG' (lower left), oil on canvas 50 x 60cm (19 11/16 x 23 5/8in). PROVENANCE: The painting came from Glencraig, Co Down, a property belonging to Lord Glentorran, Sir Daniel Dixon. The painting was inherited from the vendor's great-uncle, Sir Robert Erskine, who was the estate manager at Glencraig in the 1930s.