Old Missoula

Russell Art Preserves Old West

Missoula Visit Recalled

Genius seems to find genius. At least Charles Marion Russell, cowboy artist, found Edgar S. Paxson.

The two western painters were close friends over a period of years. Russell visited the Paxson studios in Missoula where Paxson had completed “Custer’s Last Stand.” The two artists mutually appreciated an exchange of ideas, since both realized that their art was to preserve the bygone days of the Old West.

As Russell was about to leave he took up a piece of paper, borrowed a paint brush, and quickly drew a pinto pony. This he handed to Paxson as a remembrance of his visit.

Letter to Anderson

A letter from Russell to Jack Anderson, a former cowboy associate on the range, bears a Russell painting showing a cowboy “holding leather.” This letter of May 27, 1915, recalls an incident of years before when Anderson rode a horse named Cheyenne on Arrow Creek Hill in eastern Montana.

Anderson, father of John, Henry, Frank, and Floyd Anderson of Missoula, had ridden the range with Russell in 1886 and 1887. Jack Anderson and a son John had ridden with Russell in the 1915 Missoula Fourth of July parade. John Anderson and his father rode horses, and Russell rode a mule.

The three had entered the Anderson livery stable to select mounts for the parade. When Russell saw the mule he asked if the animal was “saddle broke.” When informed in the affirmative, Russell remarked something about it having been some time since he had ridden a “long ear,” and saddled the mule.

This incident in Missoula was typical of the casual, “shy as a girl,” famed artist whose memory is perpetuated by numerous paintings bearing the noted bleached buffalo skull signature.

Russell, born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1865, took up the brush when he came to Montana as a boy of 15. At the age of 61, when he had achieved international recognition as a western painter, he put down that brush. Russell had from birth breathed the Old West, perpetuating that fleetful era with a deft stroke of action and color. When he left, the Old West left also.

What a strange sight his hearse drawn by two black dray horses, followed by his empty saddle horse must have been, in 1926.

But the spirit of the Old West and the open range which he captured on canvas lived. Even during his life, some of his paintings commanded prices as high as $10,000. Few, if any artists receive high prices for their works during their lifetimes. When Russell sold his, he commented, “That’s a dead man’s price.”

Russell’s first great painting was “The Last of Five Thousand,” a title which became a household saying in Montana. Other were “The Salute to the Robe Trade,” “When Law Dulls the Edge of Chance,” sold to the Prince of Wales for $10,000. “When a Left Handshake is the Safest” is owned by the Duke of Connaught. “Buffalo Runners” and “Signal Glass” are typical of his knowledge of horses and men.

Among the most important of his canvases historically and artistically, is his mural decoration in the state capital at Helena showing the Lewis and Clark party in council with the Indians in Ross’ Hole.