Charles M. Russell lived the life he depicted during his prolific career as painter, sculptor and illustrator of Western scenes. He spent his youth living and working in the American West; the public grew to know him as the "Cowboy Artist."

Born in 1864 in what is now the Oak Hill section of St. Louis, Russell went to Montana at age 16. He worked as a sheepherder, trapper and cowboy. He had begun to draw many years earlier and to paint on wood and model figures for his own pleasure and that of his friends. He always thought of himself as a cowboy who painted. In 1888, he rode to Canada with a friend, and on the return trip he wintered with a tribe of Blood Indians, members of the Blackfoot nation. He spent almost six months with the Blood, gaining a deep insight into Indian life, which was reflected in his later works.

Russell's artistic reputation was established in the 1890s when he displayed his works in frontier saloons throughout the Montana territory. In 1890, he published Studies of Western Life, a portfolio of 12 paintings. In 1893, he was commissioned by manufacturer and rancher William Niedringhaus to produce several paintings-his first serious art assignment.

When Russell married 18-year-old Nancy Cooper in 1896, she became the motivating force in his art career. They settled in Great Falls, Montana, which was his permanent headquarters. "Mame," as he called her, insisted that he limit his cowboy-style drinking and observe regular working hours. She also encouraged him to write for magazines, as a way to sell the illustrations he painted. In 1903, he visited New York City and continued to do so annually. His first one-man show was held there in 1911.

That year, the Montana state legislature commissioned Russell to create two murals for its House of Representatives. In 1912, Lewis and Clark Meeting the Indians at Ross' Hole was installed. The painting hints at the changes soon to come in the West.

Russell was also skilled in pen-and-ink drawing, watercolor and sculpture. He produced more than 100 bronze statues, a natural outcome of his practice of modeling in clay and wax for his paintings.

His work was often exhibited in New York City, Chicago and London; he held 28 one-man shows. In 1904, he exhibited at the St. Louis World's Fair, and in 1925, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Magazines expanded Russell's popularity, and Harper's Weekly featured his illustrations as early as 1888. He was soon published in McClure's and in Leslie's. In addition, his works were reproduced on numerous calendars.

Widely acclaimed by critics and the public, Russell died in 1926 in Great Falls.

Public Collections:
Amon Carter Musuem of Western Art, Fort Worth
Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa
Montana Historical Society, Helena
National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City
Norton Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana
State Capitol Building, Helena, Montana
Trigg C. M. Russell Gallery, Great Falls, Montana
Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Cody, Wyoming
Woolaroc Museum, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton

Charles Marion Russell, largely self-taught, was one of America's best known and popular "Cowboy Artist" who painted Western scenes. He was an authentic cowboy and wrangler who spent 6 months living with the Blood Indians of the Blackfoot Nation. While living with the Indians he gained deep insight into their lifestyle, which was later reflected in his paintings. Russell's first illustration appeared in Harper's in 1888, and he continued to contribute writing and artwork to several other magazines including McClure's and Leslie's. In 1890 Russell published a portfolio with 12 paintings entitled "Studies of Western Life". At this same time he began displaying his paintings in frontier saloons in the Montana territory. Russell married Nancy Cooper in 1896 and she became a driving force behind his artistic career, encouraging him to write and paint in regular shifts. Russell's paintings were action packed, adventurous scenes often with a humorous narrative. He depicted cowboys at camp or in town, confrontations between cowboys and Indians and gunfights between horse thieves and lawmen. Russell fist visited New York City in 1903 and continued to return annually, having his first solo show there in 1911. He had 28 one man shows throughout his career. Russell began to cast bronze sculptures of his Western subjects in 1904, based on the clay and wax models he made as studies for his paintings. Russell had a prolific and popular career, producing over 2,500 works of all media which were often reproduced for calendars.

Biography courtesy of The Caldwell Gallery, www.antiquesandfineart.com/caldwell