James Humbert Craig RHA RUA (1878-1944) Driving the First Pile, Belfast oil on canvas signed lower

James Humbert Craig RHA RUA (1878-1944) Driving the First Pile, Belfast oil on canvas signed lower right 44½ x 54½cm (17.52 x 21.46in) Provenance: Private Collection Literature: 'James Humbert Craig RHA' by George A. Connell published by The Universities Press Ltd. Described on page 30 Craig was born in Belfast in 1877, the son of a tea merchant. He started exhibiting in the RHA in 1915 and became a full member in 1928 He exhibited in the RHA throughout his life. 'Driving the First Pile, Belfast' is one of a pair of early paintings executed by Craig and is featured in the book "James Humbert Craig RHA" by George Connell as 'The Mystery Painting'. Connell writes 'In December 1963, a Craig painting in Magee's Gallery (Belfast) caused a good deal of interest. It was a shipyard scene which depicted a group of dignitaries at some ceremony, while workmen carried out their tasks in the foreground. The 'Belfast News Letter' carried a photograph of the painting together with an article headed: 'Painting Mystery Solved.' The journalist had carried out some research at Harland & Wolff's and stated that this probably showed the opening ceremony of the East Yard, about 1916 The East Yard is now known as The Musgrave Yard. The platform party is believed to include Lord Pirrie and Lord French and the occasion was the driving of the first pile in the reclaimed land. This painting is, in fact one of a pair and its companion is identical, apart from a few tiny details. In the second painting the workmen have moved and one of the piles is missing. Studying these paintings is rather like one of those 'spot the difference' puzzles. It has been chosen to help illustrate the book, partly for its historical interest and partly because it is one of the earlier Craig paintings and deals with a subject not usually chosen by the artist. Reference: 'James Humbert Craig RHA' by George A. Connell published by The Universities Press Ltd.