The United States is one of the most popular countries in the world for contemporary art. Over the last century and a half, American painters have made their mark on the world stage, often creating some of the most influential pieces in history and inspiring audiences around the globe.
While names like Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe have become household names among art fans, plenty of American artists still need to get their share of recognition and fame in the art world. One such name is Frederic Remington – read on to learn more about one of the best American artists of all time.
Who Was Frederic Remington?
A painter, illustrator, and sculptor, Frederic Remington was born on October 4, 1861, in Canton, New York. The artist was best known for his realistic portrayals and bronze sculptures depicting American West life. Remington spent years of his life in western America, learning about the people and lifestyle there, which can be very well seen in his paintings.
Born to an immigrant family from Alsace Lorraine, Remington was the only child in the family and therefore received constant attention from his parents. As a child, the artist was fond of hunting, horse riding, swimming, and camping; but was not very good in studies, particularly math.
But Remington had started making drawings and sketches of cowboys and soldiers at an early age, and he was very good at that. So, to pursue arts as his career, he went to attend art school at Yale University, the only male in his freshman year. Remington also studied at the Arts Students League of New York for a brief period in 1886.
First Trip To The West
In 1879, famous artist Frederic Remington left Yale University to look after his father, who was suffering from tuberculosis. His father died of the disease a year later, and Remington started working as a clerk, which paid him well.
Afterward, Remington refused to return to the art school and left behind his modest income job to enjoy himself. At 19, Frederic Remington made his first-ever trip to the west – he went to Montana to buy cattle. However, he later realized he needed more capital for the work.
This very trip gave Remington an authentic view of western America; the buffalo herds, unfenced cattle, the US cavalry, and the Native American tribes. But unfortunately, Remington’s drawings and sketches were still cartoonish and amateurish at this time and needed much more training.
Early Career
In 1886, Harper’s Weekly magazine sent Remington to Arizona on commission as an artist-correspondent, where his job was to cover the government’s war against Geronimo. As a result, Remington acquired numerous artifacts and photographed images that later became valuable for his sketches and photos.
Along with Harper’s Weekly, Remington was also creating drawings for the Outing magazine. 1886 was his first year as a commercial artist, and he was pretty successful – Remington had earned $1200 in the very first year, which was an outstanding amount then. Soon, Remington was again commissioned for 83 illustrations for a book.
No doubt, Frederic Remington was earning good money from his sketches. However, he was not receiving prizes for his art. Nevertheless, with his drawings selling to numerous magazines and books, Remington was also beginning to be recognized in the eastern cities.
Trips to the West
Best known for covering America’s western life in his paintings, Remington was fond of traveling since childhood. Remington made a total of 16 trips to the west, gathering information, making sketches and notes, and collecting artifacts for his paintings and sculptures.
From New Mexico and Arizona to North Dakota and even Canada and Mexico, Remington made numerous trips to Western America. On several occasions, Remington also traveled to Wyoming, which inspired him to create one of his most famous paintings – A Post Office in the Cow Country.
Inspirations and Creations
Inspired by his father, who was a journalist, thoroughbred racer, and major in the 11th Cavalry during the Civil War, Remington produced some of the most revered paintings of America. His paintings were so realistic that people thought they were photographs at first glance. His talent for capturing jaw-dropping moments earned him acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.
Despite having a short art career, Frederic Remington was very well productive – he made more than 3000 drawings and paintings, along with 22 bronze sculptors. But that’s not all, and the artist is also credited with two novels and more than 100 magazine articles and stories.
The Bottom Line
On December 26, 1909, died after an emergency appendicitis surgery, which got complicated due to his extreme obesity. A writer, painter, and sculptor, Frederic Remington donned several hats and was extremely good at everything he did.
His works are listed as some of the most iconic paintings in the history of American art. Some of Remington’s most notable paintings include titles like A Dash for the Timber, The Cowboy, Fight for the Water Hole, and Cracker Cowboys of Florida.
