Frederic Remington was a man of many talents, to use the cliche–he was an American painter, sculptor, illustrator, and writer. His area of interest was the dying American West, his passion to bring the lives of cowboys, Indians, and cavalry to the eyes of the people. His family were horsemen, saddle makers, and a colonel in the Civil War (his father), so he was strongly inspired by his experiences from a young age. He wasn’t strong in academics, but he loved activities that took him outdoors, as well as drawing cowboys. He had no interest in a high-paying occupation but yearned to follow his dream as a journalist and artist. He spent time in the West trying to grow a cattle herd and getting to know mining, but soon learned that he didn’t have enough money to make either one a reality. But he continued to pursue adventures out there, and the time gave him a more accurate understanding of life in the West. His art represented life there more realistically than most famous Western authors and writers of the time, since he was able to observe it in all its glory before the Indians were driven away. He became very successful in selling his work. He was one of the first American artists to paint the horse in its true motion, to really bring the beast alive–up until then, horses were painted with their legs stretched out to the front and back, not accurately communicating the spirit of the animal.
Remington was born on October 4, 1861 in Canton, New York.
Below are shown The Song of Hiawatha, Fight for the Waterhole,
Stampede; Horse Thieves, and Shotgun Hospitality.
