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Artist: James Humbert Craig RHA RUA (1878-1944) Title: Mountain Lake, with Cattle (c.1940) Signature: signed 'J H CRAIG' lower left Medium: oil on canvas Size: 51 x 61cm (20.1 x 24in) Framed Size: 70 x 80cm (27.6 x 31.5in) Provenance: Private Collection a#morebtn { color: #de1d01; } a#morebtn:hover { cursor: pointer;} Although the scene depicted in this painting has not been identified, it may be a sea inlet, or freshwater lake, in the Glens of county Antrim, where Craig often painted. The scene is dominated by glaciated mountains, rising above a patchwork of green fields on the lower slopes. A small river meande... Read more James Humbert Craig Lot 68 - 'Mountain Lake, with Cattle (c.1940)' Estimate: €5,000 - €7,000 Although the scene depicted in this painting has not been identified, it may be a sea inlet, or freshwater lake, in the Glens of county Antrim, where Craig often painted. The scene is dominated by glaciated mountains, rising above a patchwork of green fields on the lower slopes. A small river meanders down through a valley to the shoreline, where the mountains are reflected in the still waters. While the presence of cattle suggests that Craig is depicting a freshwater lake, it is not unknown for cattle to walk close to the sea, and even traverse through the shallows to get to grazing. Another possible location is Lough Nafooey, close to the border between Galway and Mayo. At its western end, Nafooey has a sandy beach; to the east it flows into Lough Mask. If the painting does depict Nafooey, Craig has taken slight liberties, bringing the mountains Bunnacunneen and Benbeg closer to the lake edge. Irrespective of the location, much of the quality of Craig's art lies his ability to render the Irish landscape accurately, using a subtle range of colours, and an impressionist technique. He delighted in painting mountains and rivers in different weather conditions, generally with white clouds scudding across blue skies. Born in Belfast in 1877, James Humbert Craig grew up at Bangor, Co. Down and was taught painting from an early age by his mother Marie Sabine Metzenen, who was from Switzerland. Although he attended the Belfast School of Art, Craig was largely self-taught, and specialised in depicting the landscapes of counties Donegal, Galway, Mayo, and particularly the Glens of Antrim, around Cushendun. In 1915 Craig began showing his work at the RHA, and a decade later was elected an associate member of the Academy: in 1928 he was elected a full member, and also that year participated in a group exhibition of Irish artists, at the Fine Art Society in London. Over the years Craig was to exhibit regularly with the Fine Art Society. In 1930, on the foundation of the Royal Ulster Academy, he was elected a member, and that year also he was included in the prestigious exhibition of Irish art held in Brussels. He had little interest in Modernist innovations, and remained a solidly Realist painter. A memorial exhibition of his work was held at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery in 1945, a year after his death. Peter Murray, March 2023