“One of the premier artists of the American West, Charles M. Russell lovingly preserved the rugged splendor of the frontier.”
-inscription on St. Louis Walk of Fame
When many people think of the western United States, they likely envision the scenes painted by artist Charles Russell. He grew up in St. Louis but found fame with his depictions of the “True West” in paintings, drawings, and sculptures that still capture the imagination of people all over the world.
Charles Marion Russell was born to a well-to-do family in St. Louis in 1864. He spent his early years at the family’s country estate, Oak Hill, which is near the present-day Tower Grove Park in south St. Louis. The area was sparsely populated in the mid-1800s, which gave him a taste of remote spaces with plenty of room to dream. Even as a child, he dreamed of the Wild West. He listened intently to the fur trappers’ tall tales about the West as they made their way through St. Louis. Russell even made clay models of the animals he heard the trappers tell stories about though he had never actually seen the animals in person. When he turned 16, he decided to pursued his passion so he moved west for a life on the open range.
Russell first moved to Montana to become a professional cowboy. He landed a job as a cattle wrangler in 1882 where he spent his days on the range and his evenings rolling cigarettes and drawing scenic pictures. His job consisted of riding horses and roping cattle. Fellow cattle workers said that he wasn’t very good at being a cowboy, but they were impressed with his stories and drawings.
When cowboy jobs started drying up in Montana, he turned his attention to becoming a full-time artist. He had little success during the first three years as a professional artist. But when he married Nancy Cooper in 1896, she took the reins of the business. It was the combination of her business savvy and his artistic ability that made him one of America’s favorite artists.
Even though the West was his inspiration for painting and sculpting, Charles Russell found little success selling his works there. So the couple moved to New York where there was considerable interest in fine art, and more importantly, “more money” to spend on art. He worked as an illustrator for several years before his first big break came at a one-man art show in 1911.
Russell’s depictions of life, and the mystique of life on the range were a hit with New York art fans. His success at the New York gallery opened the door for other exhibitions in London. He was now a bona fide star in art circles, selling pieces of art for amazing amounts of cash.
During his life, Russell produced more than three thousand pieces, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Throughout his works, it can be seen that Russell knew his subject intimately. Few artists have, or will ever, be able to capture the West as perfectly. His artwork showed easterners the West, which is fitting since he grew up in the city known as the “Gateway to the West.”
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