Romance Maker: The Watercolors of Charles M. Russell at the

Amon Carter

Museum of American Art

February 11-May 13, 2012

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926), Watching for the Smoke Signal, 1907. Transparent and opaque watercolor over graphite underdrawing on paper. Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas 1961.172

On February 11, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents more than 100 of the best, well-preserved watercolors by Charles M. Russell (1864-1926) in the special exhibition “Romance Maker: The Watercolors of Charles M. Russell.”

Exhibition admission is free.

“Charles Russell is recognized today as a leading artist of the Old West,” says Dr. Rick Stewart, curator of the exhibition and former Amon Carter director and curator of western paintings and sculpture. “The body of work on view in this exhibition represents the most memorable watercolors he created during his lifetime, placing him in the upper tier of American watercolorists at the turn of the 20th century.

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926), Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia, 1905, Opaque and transparent watercolor over graphite underdrawing on paper. Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas 1961.195

“Russell created approximately 3,000 works of art in his lifetime—paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sculpture. He turned out roughly 1,100 watercolors. In ‘Romance Maker,’ his works are studied in the larger context of watercolor in America from the Civil War to the late 1920s.”

At age 16, Russell left his home in St. Louis for the Montana Territory. Within a few years, he began working as a cowboy on the great open ranges of the Judith Basin and Milk River country. Whether he was working in the roundups, night-herding horses and cattle, or watching his fellow punchers breaking broncos, he never stopped sketching the scenes he encountered. He visited many Indian encampments as far north as the High River in Alberta, Canada, and learned to converse with American Indians in sign language. In 1893, after 11 years on the range, Russell gave up cow punching to devote the rest of his life to making art.

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926), Last Chance or Bust, 1900. Watercolor on paper. C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Stephenson

“Initially, Russell had a great concern for historic detail and collected artifacts to be used in his work,” Stewart says. “However, as he grew older and his fame increased, his work began to show more romantic overtones with a heightened sense of nostalgia for the frontier he had known as a young man.”

The Russell exhibition also includes a special section created by Jodie Utter, the Amon Carter’s paper conservator. Actual studio materials such as Russell’s paints, brushes, and last watercolor palette are on display. A 140-page catalogue written by Stewart may be purchased in the Museum Store + Café. During the Carter exhibition, the Sid Richardson Museum in Fort Worth will also display a selection of Russell’s watercolors.

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926). The Attack/Attack on the Red River Carts, 1903. Watercolor on paper attached to paperboard. C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana, Gift of Martha Ann Birch Davies

“We’re delighted to ‘get back to our roots’ with this spectacular Russell exhibition,” says Andrew Walker, director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. “Many of the museum’s visitors are familiar with Russell’s oil paintings and sculpture; however, his work in watercolor isn’t as well-known.”

Organized by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the exhibition and publication are supported by BNSF Railway, the Sid Richardson Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Rees-Jones, the Erwin E. Smith Foundation, the Lakeside Foundation, and the Peters Family Art Foundation.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Amon Carter offers these free programs.

Thursday, February 23, 6–7 p.m., Dr. Stewart will lecture on

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926), Bronc to Breakfast, 1908. Watercolor on paper. Montana Historical Society, Mackay Collection X1952.01.06

Charlie Goes to Hollywood: Making Myth on the Celluloid Trail. Discover Russell’s art as echoed on the big screen and in popular culture during the early 1920s. After the lecture, Dr. Stewart will sign copies of his new book “Romance Maker: The Watercolors of Charles M. Russell.”

Saturday, March 24, 10:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m., a Wild West Double Feature Film Screening. Film introductions by Dr. Kylo-Patrick Hart, TCU film, television and digital media department chair.

Movie schedule:

10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Rango (PG; 2011)

12:30–1 p.m. Refreshments

1–4:15 p.m. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (NR; 1966)

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Saturday, May 5, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Take part in “Lay It on Thick: Russell’s Watercolors,” an Adult Workshop led by Jodie Lee Utter, Amon Carter Museum of American Art paper conservator.

Since seating is limited for these free programs, reservations are required. Call 817-989-5030 or e-mail visitors@cartermuseum.org to register.