A Charles M. Russell signed handwritten letter to Frank Linderman, on Russell's letterhead, with doodle sketch, with original envelope postmarked Nov. 10, 1910, framed all together in custom frame

frame: 20 x 15 in.

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

Previously Sold: Lot 235B in the 1997 C. M. Russell Auction of Original Western Art (Great Falls, Montana)

Letter reads:

Friend Linderman,

I received your letter and am sorry but I can't possibly do the work as I am still illustrating that book that I was working on when you were here. There is 80 pictures to do for it and I am not much more than half through. Besides three paintings for Brown and Biglow Calendar Co all this I must do before New Year. After that time I might do something for you. I would of shure like to have been to your Ingen dance. I'll bet the youngsters had a good time. [doodle sketch of dancing Native American figures.] With regards to yourself and family. Your friend, C M Russell

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.