H 148.5 cm x W 124.0 cm x D 17.5 cm
A 3/4 length portrait of Timothy John Rigney standing facing left at a slightly oblique angle, with his right arm holding an object (perhaps a hat) against his side and his left arm hanging straight down by his side. The subject has straight black hair, parted on the left side of his head and combed over to the right. He wears a long black overcoat with dark clothing beneath, a white shirt with an upright collar, and a dark stock/tie. Directly behind the figure in the lower right corner of the composition is a polished rounded wood table, with the mayoral chain of office resting on it. The background is dark, mottled with brown, green, gold and maroon shades. The painting is signed "J W L Forster" in cream/gold paint, diagonally in the lower right 1/4.
The painting is housed in an early 20th century gilt wood and plaster frame. Plain back edge; egg-and-dart outer edge and deep, wide scotia; escalloped corners with small plain cabochon at centre and foliate extensions on top edge with simple foliate centres on swept rail wide shallow scotia; lambs tongue; plain double bead course and bevels to sight edge.
Son of Kingston merchant William Rigney of Rigney & Hickey Groceries & Liquors, Timothy Rigney was educated at Ottawa and Queen’s universities and at Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto). Passing the bar in 1898, he became one of Canada’s best-known and sought after lawyers and crown attorneys. Rigney maintained a successful practise in Kingston while acting as Crown Attorney of Frontenac Country (1922-1962) and Kingston city solicitor (1922-1938).
