Frederic Remington (1861-1909), the American artist, is famous for his paintings and sculptures of American West cowboys, horses, and American Indians in the late 1800s. Because of these works of art, he is sometimes referred to as Frederic Remington, the Cowboy.
Art lovers and scholars agree that Frederic Remington is widely known for his works depicting the American West, but it is much more difficult to pick his best-known works. Remember, he created more than 3,000 works of art, and almost all his artworks are pieces of excellence.
For this article, we’ve picked four paintings and two sculptures which appear on most art lovers’ short list of “most famous Frederic Remington art.” They are also examples of “special” Frederic Remington’s art features, such as his correct way of picturing galloping horses, his understanding of the circumstances in the American West, and his instinctive knowledge that the “old” uncomplicated life of the cowboys would end.
More About Frederic Remington
Before discussing the six chosen works, let’s briefly examine Remington’s relevant background. From a very young age, he was interested in the history and the people of the American West. In his initial years, he worked as a magazine correspondent and illustrator and traveled a lot in the American West.
He was fascinated by the interaction between a cowboy and his horse, and he was intrigued by the simple and humble life of the cowboys. He used the mythologizing of the humble cowboy to get inspiration for his artworks. Let’s now look at the works we want to discuss.
The Fall of the Cowboy
Frederic Remington knew that the “old” American West with its cowboys would disappear sometime or other, and in 1895 he created the painting” The Fall of the Cowboy.” This has become one of the most famous Frederic Remington art. “The Fall of the Cowboy” symbolizes the “death” of the American West cowboys, mainly due to industrial development in the West. With this painting, Remington honored all the cowboys of the past. In addition, he showed his respect for an important symbol of freedom that was disappearing fast in the American West.
With “The Fall of the Cowboy,” Remington demonstrated effectively what cowboys had been reduced to due to industrialization. The cowboys’ duties were diminished to opening and closing gates. The two cowboys in the picture are standing at a gate and waiting to go through to the other side of the fence. This contrasts with the cowboys’ traditional “no-barrier” life. Art historians speculate that the snow in the painting symbolizes “winter” that has arrived for cowboy life.
But many art critics interpret the painting more positively. According to them, the painting can symbolize that you might find a “new life” on the other side of the fence when you leave one era.
A Dash for the Timber
Remington is known for the correct way he could depict galloping horses. One of Frederic Remington’s paintings, where he excellently depicts cowboys on galloping horses, is “A Dash for the Timber.” This famous Remington painting was created in 1889 when he was only 28 years old.
The painting depicts a group of cowboys riding at full gallop to escape American Indians chasing them on horseback. When looking at the painting, you see the horses as if they were captured in a specific moment, with their leg positions and movement correctly depicted.
Remington’s signature subject was galloping horses and a cowboy on a galloping horse. Many artists have since copied this correct way of depicting galloping horses.
Return of the Blackfoot War Party
This well-known painting is one of the earlier Remington Western paintings. “Return of the Blackfoot War Party” (1887) was exhibited at the National Academy of Design. An art critic of the “New York Herald” commented that Remington would become one of the great American painters. With this painting, he showed that he could handle complex compositions.
Mule Train Crossing the Sierras
Another best-known painting by Remington is “Mule Train Crossing the Sierras.” (1888). In this painting, Frederic Remington’s art features his ability to handle complex compositions easily. The work shows action from all points of view. This painting contributed to his status as the new trendsetter in Western American art. In 1889 he won a second-class medal at the Paris Exposition.
The Bronco Buster by the Sculpture Remington
When you learn more about Remington’s artist, you’ll discover that he also created cowboy sculptures as a multi-talented artist. His well-known sculpture, “The Bronco Buster,” is made of bronze. It depicts a typical cowboy trying and fighting to stay on a rearing, untrained, or partially trained horse called a bronco.
The ring that holds the foot of a rider (a stirrup) is swinging free, and the cowboy has a short whip (quirt) in one hand and a fistful of mane and reins in the other. Although this was Remington’s first sculpture, it is still his most popular sculpture.
Cowboy – A Site-specific Sculpture
The first and only large sculpture by Remington artist is only known as “Cowboy.” Although it is his only large sculpture, it is one of his best-known sculptures.
“Cowboy” is one of America’s earliest examples of site-specific statutes. At the beginning of 1905, the president of the Fairmount Park Art Association requested that a cowboy statue be created and installed in the park.
Remington agreed to create the work, but he insisted that he should choose the erection spot and that a horseman should pose for him on the spot. That was arranged, and the sculpture was installed in 1908. Many art lovers visit Fairmount Park to view this impressive statue.
Conclusion
Although Frederic Remington was a multi-talented artist, he is best known for his paintings of cowboys, horses, and Indians of the American West in the late 1800s. However, the focal point of his famous paintings and sculptures is everyday life in the American West.
Read more: Evolution Of Light In Painting