Page 84 - 2019 Russell Catalogue

112
CHARLES M. RUSSELL (1864–1926)
The Snake Priest
bronze
4 x 8 1⁄2 x 4 inches
Inscription: CM Russell (skull); CALIF.ART.BRONZE.FNRY.LA.
$30,000–50,000
In a letter regarding this piece, noted Russell scholar Rick Stewart writes:
My examination of casts of The Snake Priest made by all three foundries, show a marked difference in quality. The detail and workmanship on the California Art Bronze casts, like this one, are always superior to the casts produced earlier by the Zoppo foundry or Roman Bronze Works. The cast you have is finely detailed like the example—also by the California Art Bronze Foundry—in the Amon Carter Museum collection, which came from the Nancy C. Russell estate.
In conclusion, your cast of The Snake Priest is a small gem of a bronze, authentic and very finely detailed. It is a bronze that would have pleased Russell himself.
PROVENANCE
• Private collection, Texas