Cowboys on Canvas

The Fall of the Cowboy Frederic Remington

American artist Frederic Remington focused a great deal of this artistic career on painting depictions of the American Old West particularly in the 19th century. The artist was born in New York during the start of the Civil War. I showed talent in drawing and sketching cowboys and soldiers. He created this artwork in 1895 intending to show the end of the free cowboy life. During the snowy winter two cowboys have come to a fence and one is opening a gate so that they can continue on. The fence represents the barrier to a cowboy’s life barring their freedom.

A Dash for Timber Frederic Remington

American artist Frederic Remington ventured into the Southwest to witness the events of the Apache Wars. He was inspired to create this artwork which is considered to be one of his best masterpieces. He created this artwork in 1889 portraying a frantic group of cowboys being pursued by Apache warriors. The cowboys fire their pistols and rifles as the flee into the cover of timber to take a stand and fight against the Apache warriors.

Camp Cook’s Troubles Charles Marion Russell

American artist Charles Marion Russell was famous for his depiction of characters from the American West including Native Americans. His paintings are known to depict the life and difficulties of life on the trail for cowboys. He created this artwork in 1912 and it depicts a bronco bucking violently in the middle of a cowboy encampment. A cowboy in the saddle is trying to calm the horse during the time the bronco has destroyed much of what the cook was making and the cook confronts him with a knife.

The Herd Quitter Charles Marion Russell

American artist Charles Marion Russell created this artwork to show how difficult it was to maintain order with a large heard of cattle. It is among his best paintings depicting a group of cowboys pursuing a runaway cattle. “Herd quitter” refers to the one cattle that broke away from the main herd showing no desire to return and the cowboys are forced to run him down.

Texas Cowboy Stanley L. Wood

American artist Stanley L. Wood was known as a distinguished illustrator focusing on the American West and cowboys. In this illustration he depicts cowboys riding on a fast-moving horses while holding a lasso and a rope.

The Horse Rustler William Herbert Dunton

American artist William Herbert Dunton was known for his realistic depictions of cowboys and other characters from the American West. In 1912 the artist moved to Taos, New Mexico and joined a colony of artists later establishing the famous Taos Society of Artists. This artwork is among his most well-known paintings showing a cowboy on a horse against the northern New Mexico landscape.

When Spring Comes to Cattle Country H.W. Hansen

American-German artist Herman Wendelborg Hansen became one of the most notable American West artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This artwork is among his most well-known. It depicts a group of cowboys riding across the open plain. Spring was the time ranchers sent their cattle to be sold and cowboys looked at the onset of the spring season as a time when they could take to the trail again.

Cowboys Roping a Bear James Walker

American-English artist James Walker was known for this outstanding artwork created in 1877. The painting depicts six cowboys riding around a bear trying to lasso it with their ropes. The bear apparently wandered onto the open plain and the cowboys wanted to capture him to return him to the woods. Wildlife like bears could harm horses and cattle.