Wyoming Night Herder

In 1931, Frank Tenney Johnson and his wife became enamored with Rim Rock Ranch in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Wyoming. The pair decided to construct a log studio there where Johnson could paint and immerse himself in the surrounding environment. The present work reflects the peaceful nature that endeared the Johnsons to Wyoming. According to Harold McCracken, "Spending the summers at Rim Rock and the psychological effect of the scenic beauty and mountain air was undoubtedly reflected in Frank's painting" (The Frank Tenney Johnson Book: A Master Painter of the Old West, Garden City, New York, 1974, p. 190). Here, the night herder and his horse are immersed in the expansive landscape in quiet solitude, illuminated by the subtle glow of moonlight.