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Wild, Wild West

on November 15 | in Art & Design | by | with No Comments

The wild, wild West has captured the hearts and imaginations of many with its panoramic vistas and exciting history replete with pioneer courage, cowboy folklore, the gold rush, and American Indian clashes.  The West has been romanticized because it represents so much of what America takes pride in—bravery, fortitude, entrepreneurism, and breathtaking, natural beauty.  Colorado especially stands out for its glorious peaks, mineral-rich earth, territorial fights with Mexico, Buffalo Bill, and notorious “bad boys” like Jesse James and “Soapy” Smith.  These qualities have inspired artists from all over the world to recreate the “spirit of the West.”

Interestingly, the majority of past, famous “Western” artists lived on the East Coast, but were captivated by the West and its glory.  In order to truly convey the native people and landscapes, they typically lived or traveled to the West for extended periods.  The most enduring Colorado artists and sculptors include well-known names:

Albert Bierstadt, 1830-1902: German American painter famous for his landscapes. In 1865, one of his most significant paintings, The Rocky Mountains Landers Peak, was sold for $25,000, worth over one million dollars today.

Thomas Moran, 1837-1926:  American painter and printmaker. His work mostly featured Rocky Mountain landscapes.

William Henry Jackson, 1843-1942: Photographer with one of the largest and most expansive Western photographic collections.  He opened his own photo gallery in 1879 and died as Colorado’s preeminent photographer.

Frederic Remington, 1861-1909:  Painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer.  He was fascinated by the American West images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry as seen in his famous bronze sculptures.  He did not become an established painter until 1890 when he exhibited at the American Art Galleries.

Vance Kirkland, 1904-1981: Famous abstract painter and founding director of the school of art, University of Denver.  He left the university in 1932 to paint full time but soon after, established the Kirkland School of Art.  Much of his work can still be enjoyed at his own museum, the Vance Kirkland Museum, 1311 Pearl Street, here in Denver.

 

With Colorado being the most prominent symbol of he West and its culture, Denver naturally embraces its roots with Western art collections in museums across the state. In the 1950s, the first curator of Western Art was appointed at the Denver Art Museum.  Colorado history can be experienced by visiting the following museums:

Denver Art Museum
100 West 14th Ave. Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
720-865-5000

Tue-Thu 10am-5pm
Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Fri 10am-8pm

Institute of Western Art within the Denver Art Museum
Petrie Institute within the Denver Art Museum

Vance Kirkland Museum
1311 Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80203
303-832-8576

Tue-Sun 11am-5pm
Wed 1:30pm tours are offered, free with admission

Colorado History Museum
1200 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
303-447-8679

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun Noon-5pm

 

If you feel inclined to purchase your own piece of Colorado history, check out the amazing art at the following premier Denver galleries:

Gallery of the West, www.greatwesterngallery.com

The Mudhead Gallery, www.mudheadgallery.com

 

 

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