jjares reviewed Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell: The Life and Legacy of the America?s Most Iconic Western Artists on + 3263 more book reviews
These men were contemporaries; Remington was 3-years-older but died at 48, after an emergency appendectomy. Russell lived until the age of 62. Both men struggled to find an audience for their art. It seemed that each man also grappled with non-acceptance as they tried to become full-time artists. Both men raced to capture the dying West as the US government declared that the frontier was 'closed' in 1890.
Both men eventually worked in bronze, although they started out in other mediums. Russell is known for being particularly prolific; he painted more than 4000 landscapes, cowboys, and Native Americans, before moving to bronze. Remington, in his short life, finished 3000 paintings and drawings, 22 bronze sculptures, 2 novels (1 was adapted for theatre), 100 magazine articles, and numerous stories.
Critics have said that Remington's work exhibited Manifest Destiny, while Russell's mourned the damage done by America's western expansion.
FREDERIC REMINGTON --
Frederic Remington, a cousin to the Remingtons of weapons fame, considered himself to have been self-taught. He's best known for his work with American cowboys, Indians, and soldiers. Although the public thought Remington was a Westerner, he actually was a New Yorker. This book tells the interesting story of Remington and his difficulties with his wife, Eva. They did not have any children.
He and Eva moved to New Rochell, New York about 1890, and Remington decided to increase his exercise (he weighed in excess of 250 lbs. by then) and interact with other artists. By this time, his ink drawings were sold to magazines, watercolors went to various exhibitions, and he started to work in sculpture. He also wrote miniature tales (short stories) about camping and calvary activities.
It was surprising to learn that Remington was dismissive of American Indians and minorities in general. He was widely known as an anti-Semite. He died after an emergency appendectomy, performed in his home.
I was delighted to read this biography because our family has been twice to the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art in Tulsa, OK. The Remington art (sculptures, oils, etc.) they have on display is awe-inspiring. This book explained that when the Remington bronze pieces were made (copies), the original was destroyed in the process. I didn't realize that multiples were made of each of his sculptures.
CHARLES MARION RUSSELL --
Russell was born before the end of the Civil War and his parents found it difficult to keep him in school. At the age of 16, Russell quit school and went to work on a Montana sheep ranch. By the age of 18, he was working on a Montana cattle ranch.
Russell probably wouldn't have found success except for his astute marriage to Nancy Cooper. He had no business sense and Nancy took matters in hand. After a couple of lean years, they started to make money from his art. Russell became a local celebrity while his wife orchestrated showings and exhibitions across the US and around the world. Russell worked in watercolors, oils, and sculptures. He also enjoyed a reputation as a gifted writer.
Unable to have children, Nancy and Charles adopted a boy. There are no records of the boy's later life. Russell died after surgery for goiter; it is thought he suffered from congestive heart failure. The state of Montana mourned Charles Russell as a native hero.
Some of Russell's work is also at the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art in Tulsa, OK. Until reading this, I was not aware that two museums in Fort Worth, TX., have pieces by Russell too.
Both men eventually worked in bronze, although they started out in other mediums. Russell is known for being particularly prolific; he painted more than 4000 landscapes, cowboys, and Native Americans, before moving to bronze. Remington, in his short life, finished 3000 paintings and drawings, 22 bronze sculptures, 2 novels (1 was adapted for theatre), 100 magazine articles, and numerous stories.
Critics have said that Remington's work exhibited Manifest Destiny, while Russell's mourned the damage done by America's western expansion.
FREDERIC REMINGTON --
Frederic Remington, a cousin to the Remingtons of weapons fame, considered himself to have been self-taught. He's best known for his work with American cowboys, Indians, and soldiers. Although the public thought Remington was a Westerner, he actually was a New Yorker. This book tells the interesting story of Remington and his difficulties with his wife, Eva. They did not have any children.
He and Eva moved to New Rochell, New York about 1890, and Remington decided to increase his exercise (he weighed in excess of 250 lbs. by then) and interact with other artists. By this time, his ink drawings were sold to magazines, watercolors went to various exhibitions, and he started to work in sculpture. He also wrote miniature tales (short stories) about camping and calvary activities.
It was surprising to learn that Remington was dismissive of American Indians and minorities in general. He was widely known as an anti-Semite. He died after an emergency appendectomy, performed in his home.
I was delighted to read this biography because our family has been twice to the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art in Tulsa, OK. The Remington art (sculptures, oils, etc.) they have on display is awe-inspiring. This book explained that when the Remington bronze pieces were made (copies), the original was destroyed in the process. I didn't realize that multiples were made of each of his sculptures.
CHARLES MARION RUSSELL --
Russell was born before the end of the Civil War and his parents found it difficult to keep him in school. At the age of 16, Russell quit school and went to work on a Montana sheep ranch. By the age of 18, he was working on a Montana cattle ranch.
Russell probably wouldn't have found success except for his astute marriage to Nancy Cooper. He had no business sense and Nancy took matters in hand. After a couple of lean years, they started to make money from his art. Russell became a local celebrity while his wife orchestrated showings and exhibitions across the US and around the world. Russell worked in watercolors, oils, and sculptures. He also enjoyed a reputation as a gifted writer.
Unable to have children, Nancy and Charles adopted a boy. There are no records of the boy's later life. Russell died after surgery for goiter; it is thought he suffered from congestive heart failure. The state of Montana mourned Charles Russell as a native hero.
Some of Russell's work is also at the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art in Tulsa, OK. Until reading this, I was not aware that two museums in Fort Worth, TX., have pieces by Russell too.
