James Humbert Craig

James Humbert Craig (1877–1944) was a prominent Irish landscape painter, celebrated for his evocative depictions of the Irish countryside. Born in Belfast on 12 July 1877, he spent much of his youth in County Down. His father, Alexander Craig, was a successful tea merchant, while his mother, Marie Sabine Metzenen, was of Swiss origin and came from a family with artistic leanings. Although Craig briefly studied at the Belfast School of Art, he was largely self-taught and developed a naturalistic style rooted in direct observation of the landscape. He once remarked that an artist should “never try to improve on nature,” reflecting his commitment to truthful representation.

Craig’s early career saw him working in his father’s business and even spending a short time in the United States, but he eventually devoted himself to painting full-time. He found inspiration in the rugged beauty of the Glens of Antrim, Donegal, and Connemara—regions that would become central themes in his work. His first major public recognition came in 1915 when he began exhibiting with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), where he was later elected a full member in 1928. He also exhibited with the Royal Ulster Academy (RUA), the Belfast Art Society, and the Fine Art Society in London, among others. Notably, his work was included in the art competitions at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Craig’s art is distinguished by its atmospheric use of light, careful composition, and sensitive portrayal of rural Irish life and scenery. His paintings are held in many public and private collections, and he is widely regarded as one of the leading Irish landscape painters of the early 20th century. He died on 12 June 1944 in Cushendall, County Antrim, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in Irish art history.