Charles M. Russell

Charles Marion Russell: The Cowboy Artist of the American West

Charles Marion Russell (1864 – 1926) known affectionately as C.M. Russell or “The Cowboy Artist” — captured the spirit, grit, and beauty of the American frontier like no other. Over his lifetime, Russell created more than 4,000 works, including paintings, watercolors, and bronzes that celebrate cowboys, Native Americans, wildlife, and sweeping Western landscapes.

Born in Missouri, Russell’s fascination with the West began early, inspired by tales of explorers and traders passing through his hometown. At sixteen, he left school and set out for Montana, where he lived and worked as a cowboy and learned firsthand the culture, hardships, and freedom of frontier life. Those experiences would shape his art for decades to come.

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His early watercolor Waiting for a Chinook — depicting a starved steer under a gray winter sky — first drew public attention and marked the beginning of a career that would make him one of the most beloved artists of the Old West.

Russell’s works are prized for their authenticity, storytelling, and deep respect for Native American life, much of which he observed while living among the Blood Indians, a branch of the Blackfeet Nation.

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In 1896, Russell married Nancy Cooper, who played a vital role in promoting his art to national and international acclaim. Together, they helped bring Western art into the public eye, attracting collectors, celebrities, and fellow artists alike.

Today, Russell’s legacy endures through major collections at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, and other institutions across the United States. His work, from vivid oil paintings to finely detailed bronzes, continues to define the visual language of the American West — timeless tributes to the people and places that shaped the frontier.

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