The definitive images Frederic Remington (1861–1909) created of the American West shaped the nation’s perception of the region and popularized a new American folk hero, the archetypal cowboy. The prolific artist produced paintings, illustrations, sculptures, and fiction and nonfiction writings that romanticized the rugged region for an Eastern audience.
His most celebrated artwork is the small bronze “Off the Range (Coming Through the Rye).” Casts of it are in the country’s preeminent museums, including the National Gallery of Art.
A Fascination With the West
Remington was born in Canton, New York, and attended Yale University, where he played football and studied drawing. Later on, he spent three months taking classes at the Art Students League in New York. This was his final formal art instruction.
Michelle Plastrik
Author
Michelle Plastrik is an art adviser living in New York City. She writes on a range of topics, including art history, the art market, museums, art fairs, and special exhibitions.
