Page 69 - 2019 Russell Catalogue

88
HAROLD VON SCHMIDT (1893–1982) Confusion of Sounds
charcoal and gouache on paper
21 1⁄2 x 26 1⁄2 inches
$4,000–6,000
Harold von Schmidt moved to Westport Connecticut and became a highly accomplished illustrator for Esquire, Cosmopolitan, McLeans, and The Saturday Evening Post. For a period, he also studied under Harvey Dunn, who had studied under Howard Pyle at the Brandywine school.
PROVENANCE
• Private collection, Colarado
Work sold to benefit the acquisition fund of the Denver Art Museum.
89
IRVIN “SHORTY” SHOPE (1900–1977) Crown Butte (Birdtail Country), 1956
oil
20 x 30 inches
$4,000–6,000 PROVENANCE
• Private collection, Montana
A charter member of the Cowboy Artists of America, Irvin (Shorty) Shope was one of the last Western artists who could claim a direct connection to C. M. Russell. His biography on the C.A.A. website tells of the meeting:
In 1925, Shope, who was then twenty-five years old, visited Russell and cautiously showed him a portfolio of his drawings. Russell was impressed, and wrote on the back of one of the drawings, “These drawings of Shope’s are all good.” He signed the inscription with his trademark buffalo skull. That simple sentence became one of Shope’s most treasured possessions. Russell also offered some words of advice. He asked Shope if he were intending to head east to further his artistic education. When Shope said that he was, Russell said, “Don’t do it. The men, horses, and country you love and want to study are out here, not back there.”