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Western and Contemporary Native American Art
|
- Sale 6381
Live
| Denver
Nov 6 | 10:00 AM MST
Live
| Denver
Sale 6381
| Denver
| Denver
Estimate$40,000 – $60,000
The present lot is recorded in the C. M. Russell Catalogue Raisonné under reference number CR.DR.73.
Provenance:
Nancy Russell, Pasadena, California.
Homer E. Britzman, Los Angeles, California.
Hammer Bros., New York, New York, by 1957.
The Estate of Carol C. Maguire, Guilford, Connecticut, 1957.
Private Collection, by descent.
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, Reno, Sale of July 29, 2017, Lot 36.
Acquired directly from the above sale.
Exhibited:
Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles Department of Municipal Art, August 29 – September 13, 1957, no. 101.
San Francisco, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, "Charles Marion Russell," September 19 – 28, 1957.
Helena, Historical Society of Montana Fine Arts Gallery, October 1 – 12, 1957, no. 101.
Great Falls, Trigg-C. M. Russell Foundation, October 14 – 26, 1957, no. 177.
Calgary, Calgary Allied Art Council, November 1 – 17, 1957.
New York, The New-York Historical Society, December 17, 1957 – Feb 2, 1958.
Lot Note:
In Right Then's Where the Ball Opens, Charles Marion Russell offers a magisterial illustration of wolfing, or wolf-roping, a historical practice and an iconic and recurring theme in Western Art. As their natural prey, buffalo, dwindled overtime, prairie wolves turned to cattle for food, and were soon reviled by ranchers for snatching cattle from their herds. As their reputation as pests became widespread, so did bounties on wolf scalps. In part to protect cattle, but also in no small part for the sheer entertainment it provided, cowboys quickly took up the habit of roping wolves when they came across them. Wolfing entailed skill and agility, as the animals—bold, ferocious, and prodigiously strong—were adept at dodging the rope. It comes as no surprise, then, that the prairie wolves and their misdeeds should have become part and parcel of Western mythology, lending the cowboy figure an aura of deftness, intrepidity and heroism.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
Adam Veil
VP, Head of Department, American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
Framed: 16 3/4 x 22 1/4 inches.
In overall very good condition. Board is affixed to mat with brown tape on three sides (top, right and bottom). Some light surface soiling along edges, including upper right corner–all largely obscured by mat. Additional, isolated dots/small areas of soiling beneath horses feet, behind/to right of horse's left hind quarter, and to left of left-most wolf. Additional images available upon request.
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The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
