Robert Riggs
George Washington in Marine Procession for New York Presidential Inauguration. Life Magazine, 1960
Tempera mixed with gum arabic and alcohol on Renaissance Panel
17 3/4 × 36 1/2 in / 45.1 × 92.7 cm
$ 114,000.00
Further images
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 red carpet...
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 red carpet and stairs are in full view. Cheering crowds joyously wave flags and military personnel at attention, ceremoniously prepare to receive Washington's boat. The extravagance of the scene and peak moment of drama depicted is wholly appropriate for the occasion. The complexity of the composition, packed with people and a color scheme of red, white and blue show that Riggs is not just a technically brilliant artist, graphic designer but a thinker on a grand scale. Notice how wonderfully Riggs has composed the scene as flags and gesturing people lead your eye right to Washington. It's a motion picture in one scene. Done in 1960 , this work has an epic production look and grandeur of a Cecil B. DeMille movie set. Yet, it’s a one man production. Robert Riggs is the director, art director and set and costume director. Notice the variety of period flags and costumes all rendered in perfect form. There was no quick way to Google that in the 1930's and to get an accurate reference of all the detail must have been a grand undertaken. Finally, Riggs is able to obtain a likeness of Washington in small scale and in profile. Among Riggs other prodigious artistic talents, he is also a great portrait painter... even in miniature.