Jean RIGA l’ANCIEN ( ? 1653 – ? 1717) Lot n° 30

The funeral Canvas 142 x 100 cm Signed and dated lower left on the step J. Riga Pinxit / Leod. 1709 Jean Riga the old is an artist from Liège of the beginning of the 18th century, in the suite of Bertholet Flemal and who was in his time the rival of Del Cour and Fisen. Pierre Yves Kairis has noted the relationship between our painting and the large painting by Gérard Douffet, Le Pape Nicolas V au tombeau de saint François : same central group and same woman holding her child at the extreme right of the painting. This large painting was painted by Douffet in 1627, shortly after his return from Rome for the church of the Friars Minor in Liege. It is now in the Staatsgalerie in Neuburg-on-Danube. When the Prince Palatine acquired it in 1700, he had a copy made by Jean Riga (still in place), also for the church of the Friars Minor. The word "Leod" stands for leodiensis, "of Liege". Some other works by Riga are known, the Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the indulgence of Portioncula destroyed in 1944 in the church of Saint-Antoine, the Christ hands the keys to Peter preserved in the church of Saint Peter in Saive, or the Christ on the cross of the Benedictine Abbey of Peace Notre-Dame in Liege. We would like to thank Pierre Yves Kairis for all the information contained in this notice.