Charles Marion Russell (Amer., 1864-1926), sketch of big horn sheep on mountain, ink on paper, initialed lower left with Russell's customary bison skull

sight: 9 x 12 in., frame: 18 x 19 in.

Previously Sold: Lot 215 in the 1996 C. M. Russell Auction of Original Western Art (Great Falls, Montana)

Provenance: Property from the Estate of Robert A. "Bob" Funk Sr. - trailblazing American businessman, philanthropist, and rancher, from his impressive ranch headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Born in St. Louis, Charles Russell became a legendary painter and sculptor of the American West, known especially for his vivid portrayals of Native Americans and cowboys rather than cavalry. With minimal formal training (just three drawing lessons), he left home at 16 to work as a cowboy in Montana, where he carried watercolors and made clay models, capturing frontier life firsthand. Deeply influenced by his time living among the Blood and Blackfeet Indians, Russell developed a respectful and sensitive approach to their culture. His art career took off after 1896 when, encouraged by his wife Nancy, he set up a studio and began taking commissions, achieving wide popularity as an illustrator and painter of western scenes and wildlife. His work was celebrated for its authentic depiction of rugged western life and became sought after by collectors and celebrities, solidifying his legacy as a key chronicler of the American West.