John E. Costigan

JOHN E. COSTIGAN (1888 - 1972): John E. Costigan was an American painter, printmaker, and watercolorist born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1888. Largely self-taught, he worked initially as a commercial illustrator before establishing himself as a fine artist. Costigan became known for his intimate scenes of rural life, family groups, farm animals, landscapes, and everyday activities, often drawing upon his surroundings in Rockland County, New York. His paintings and watercolors combine Impressionistic light and color with a highly personal, lyrical approach to ordinary subjects. Costigan exhibited extensively and received numerous honors, including the Logan Prize from the Chicago Art Institute and the National Academy of Design's Saltus Award. He was elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design in 1928 and a full Academician in 1931. His work is represented in numerous American museums and collections, and he is particularly noted for the warmth and spontaneity of his depictions of rural American life.