Charles Marion Russell

Charles Marion Russell was born in 1864 in St. Louis, Missouri, and became one of the most important artists of the American West. As a young man, he worked as a cowboy and lived among ranchers and Native American communities, experiences that deeply shaped his art. Russell learned to draw and paint largely through observation and practice rather than formal academic training. His firsthand knowledge gave his work a strong sense of authenticity and detail.

Russell is best known for paintings and sculptures that depict frontier life, wildlife, and Native American culture. His scenes capture both the harsh realities and the quiet poetry of the West. He worked primarily in oils, watercolors, and bronze sculpture. Over time, his reputation grew, and his work gained national recognition. Russell remained closely connected to the landscapes and stories that inspired him throughout his life. He died in 1926, leaving a lasting visual record of the fading American frontier.