Frederic Remington

Frederic Sackrider Remington was a multifaceted American artist renowned for his evocative portrayals of the American West. Born in 1861 in Canton, New York, Remington developed an early interest in the frontier life that would come to dominate his artistic career. His works encompass painting, illustration, sculpture and writing, making him one of the most versatile and influential artists of his time.

Although Remington enrolled at the School of Fine Arts at Yale University as a young man, he was more drawn to sports than still-lifes, and left the school after his father’s death in 1880 (he was given an honorary degree by Yale in 1900). A summer trip to the Montana Territory the following year sparked the artist’s lifelong interest in the West.

He quickly gained recognition as an illustrator for magazines such as Harper's Weekly, where his first professional drawing — of a Wyoming cowboy — was published in 1882. Frederic Remington paintings are celebrated for their vivid and dynamic depictions of cowboys, Native Americans, soldiers, and the vast landscapes of the Western United States. His artwork provided a romanticised yet realistic portrayal of the Old West, capturing its spirit and adventure.

Remington was already an established artist-correspondent when he decided to try his hand at sculpting, initially inspired by the artist Frederick Ruckstuhl. His first effort, The Broncho Buster (modelled in 1895), would secure his reputation as an American master in the medium. In 2017 Christie’s sold Coming Through the Rye (modelled in 1902) by Frederic Remington for US$11,223,500, a world auction record for the artist and a record for American sculpture pre-World War II.

The Frederic Remington Art Museum was founded in 1923 in the artist’s home in Ogdensburg, New York. The museum houses the largest collection of Remington’s works, including many paintings, drawings and sculptures, as well as his personal collection of objects and correspondence that serve to bring the artist and his vision to life.

Frederic Remington passed away in 1909, but his art endures, capturing the characters and activity of Western life.