James Humbert Craig
James Humbert Craig was born in Belfast in 1877, the son of a tea-merchant who had married a Marie Metzenen of Switzerland. Craigs early interest in art may have stemmed from his mothers side, as there was said to have been a painting tradition in her family. He was virtually a self-taught artist and earned popular renown for his impressionistic scenes of Donegal, Antrim and Connemara. His works first appeared at the RHA in 1915, and he was a constant contributor there up until his death, showing 130 works in all. In 1925 he became an associate of the RHA and in 1928 a full member. He was also an academician of the Ulster Academy of Arts. Overseas he exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1928 and at the Royal Academy in 1935 and 1937. His work has been widely reproduced in the form of lithographic posters and calendars. During the 1930s Craig showed more than 200 paintings with the Fine Art Society in London, preferring the opulent Victorian gallery to that of the stuffier confines of the Royal Academy. Established in 1886, the Society pioneered the concept of the one-man show; Whistler, Seargent and Sickert all exhibited there. He also was represented at the 1932 Olympic art exhibition in Los Angeles. Craig is recorded as having been granted at least three solo exhibitions with the Society in 1933, 1935 and 1937. He was also included in many of their group exhibitions, including the 1928 exhibition of Irish artists in which Paul Henry, E. L. Lawrensen and Crampton Walker were also represented. Craig died in Antrim in 1944. Following his death memorial exhibitions of his work took place in the Municipal Technical College, Derry, Belfast Museum and Art Gallery, Combridge Galleries, Belfast and at the Oriel Gallery, Dublin. Examples of works by James Humbert Craig can be found in the National Gallery of Ireland, Crawford Municipal Gallery and in the Ulster Museum.
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'FLAX GROWING, NORTHERN IRELAND, 1927'
- Price Realised: 54,000
- Sale: 04 March 2019
- oil on canvas
- 40 x 60in. (101.60 x 152.40cm)
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'THE TOPS OF GLENDUN, COUNTY ANTRIM'
- Price Realised: 42,000
- Sale: 04 March 2013
- oil on board
- 14.75 by 19.5in., 36.875 by 48.75cm.
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'THE POTATO HARVEST, GWEEBARRA, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 36,000
- Sale: 19 February 2007
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'SUNDAY IN CONNEMARA'
- Price Realised: 34,000
- Sale: 17 February 2004
- oil on panel
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'COTTAGE INTERIOR WITH CHICKENS, OR A KERRY COTTAGE'
- Price Realised: 29,000
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- oil on canvas
- 46 by 56cm., 18 by 22in.
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'WOMAN AND CHILDREN ON THE FAIRY STRAND, DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 26,000
- Sale: 27 April 2004
- oil on canvas
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'CHILDREN SAILING TOY BOATS ON A PARK POND'
- Price Realised: 26,000
- Sale: 18 November 2003
- oil on canvas
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'BATHERS'
- Price Realised: 25,000
- Sale: 19 February 2007
- oil on panel
- 38 by 50cm., 15 by 19.7 5in.
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'THE LUXEMBOURG GARDENS, PARIS'
- Price Realised: 24,124
- Sale: 13 March 2001
- oil on board
- 26 by 36cm., 10.2 by 14in.
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'CROLLY, COUNTY DONEGAL, AUGUST 1938'
- Price Realised: 21,000
- Sale: 30 April 2007
- oil on panel
- 30 by 43cm., 11.7 5 by 17in.
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'MILKING TIME'
- Price Realised: 19,000
- Sale: 20 September 2005
- oil on panel
- 24 by 34cm., 9.5 by 13.2in.
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'THE HERRING SEASON'
- Price Realised: 18,000
- Sale: 25 April 2006
- signed lower left; inscribed on reverse
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'HERRING BOATS OFF A ROCKY SHORE'
- Price Realised: 17,000
- Sale: 25 February 2008
- oil on canvas
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'LIVERPOOL DOCKS'
- Price Realised: 17,000
- Sale: 25 April 2006
- signed lower right; original label inscribed with exhibition number (no. 52) and prica (£30-0-0) on reverse
- 30 by 43cm., 12 by 17in.
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'BLUE AND GOLD IN CONNEMARA'
- Price Realised: 17,000
- Sale: 30 November 2004
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'SUMMER YACHTING'
- Price Realised: 16,500
- Sale: 28 November 2006
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'CHILDREN FISHING AT THE HARBOUR'
- Price Realised: 16,000
- Sale: 17 September 2007
- oil on panel
- 28 by 33cm., 11 by 13in.
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'EVENING IN THE ROSSES, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 16,000
- Sale: 25 April 2006
- signed lower left; inscribed and signed again on reverse
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'BAY IN DONEGAL WITH FIGURES'
- Price Realised: 15,871
- Sale: 13 June 2001
- oil on board
- 41 by 51cm., 16 by 20in.
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'"ON THE WAY TO DOOCHARRY"'
- Price Realised: 15,000
- Sale: 14 March 2011
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'GARRON POINT FROM CUSHENDUN'
- Price Realised: 13,000
- Sale: 16 September 2003
- oil on panel
- 38 by 51cm., 15 by 20in.
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'FIGURES ON A PATH BEFORE A COTTAGE, BAY AND MOUNTAINS BEYOND'
- Price Realised: 12,000
- Sale: 21 February 2006
- oil on panel
- 37 by 50cm., 14.7 by 19.75in.
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'MILKING TIME, 1928'
- Price Realised: 11,500
- Sale: 31 May 2010
- oil on panel
- 24 by 34cm., 9.5 by 13.5in.
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'LOUGH ANURE, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 11,500
- Sale: 17 September 2007
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.
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'CHILDREN AND BOATS BY AN ESTUARY'
- Price Realised: 11,500
- Sale: 19 February 2007
- oil on Rathbone canvas board
- 25 by 36cm., 10 by 14in.
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'CUSHENDALL, COUNTY ANTRIM'
- Price Realised: 11,500
- Sale: 19 September 2006
- oil on panel
- 30 by 43cm., 12 by 17in.
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'FLUKE FISHING AT KILLYHOEY, COUNTY DONEGAL'
- Price Realised: 11,000
- Sale: 16 September 2003
- oil on panel
- 36 by 47cm., 14 by 18.5in.
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'EARLY SUMMER, GLENDUN'
- Price Realised: 10,500
- Sale: 21 September 2004
- oil on canvas
- 51 by 61cm., 20 by 24in.