Frederic Remington (American, 1861–1909). Coming through the Rye, 1902 (cast 1907). Bronze, 29 x 31 x 27 1/4 in. (73.7 x 78.7 x 69.2 cm). Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming, Gift of Barbara S. Leggett (5.66)
This Sunday, April 13, is the final day to see The American West in Bronze, 1850–1925 at the Met. After the show closes in New York, it will travel to its second venue, opening at the Denver Art Museum on Sunday, May 11. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountain region, Denver is an opportune setting for an exhibition of western bronzes. The Denver Art Museum is also home to the Petrie Institute of Western American Art, founded in 2001 and dedicated to promoting the significance of the West in American art and culture. Denver thus provides a new geographic and intellectual context for The American West in Bronze, 1850–1925.
As at the Met, the exhibition in Denver will be installed in four thematic sections: American Indians, Wildlife, Cowboys, and Settlers. It will include four additional sculptures: Frederic Remington's Coming through the Rye; John Quincy Adams Ward's Indian Chief; Hermon Atkins MacNeil's Pioneer Woman; and Alexander Phimister Proctor's Pioneer Mother. The latter work, a quarter-size model for Proctor's monumental statue Pioneer Mother in Kansas City, Missouri, will be highlighted in its own gallery at the end of the exhibition.
Left: John Quincy Adams Ward (American, 1830–1910). Indian Chief, ca. 1860. Bronze, 20 x 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (50.8 x 21.6 x 17.1 cm). Denver Art Museum, Gift from Estelle Rae Wolf and the Harry I. and Edyth Smookler Memorial Endowment Fund in honor of Lewis I. Sharp (2001.634); Right: Alexander Phimister Proctor (American, born Canada, 1860–1950). Pioneer Mother, 1925 (cast 1927). Bronze, 56 x 28 1/2 x 82 in. (142.2 x 72.4 x 208.3 cm). Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Gift of the A.E. Clegg Family (1991.89.II)
I spoke with Thomas Brent Smith, co-curator of The American West in Bronze and Director of the Petrie Institute of Western American Art, who emphasized the show's historical importance: "This is a pivotal moment for western American art, which has been infrequently exhibited on the East Coast in the past two decades. The exhibition demonstrates both the quality and quantity of western-themed sculptures in this seventy-five year period, and the recognition these works are receiving is of critical importance."
Thomas also noted that the while "New Yorkers may be less familiar with western art, it is a subject that local Denver audiences know very well." Nevertheless, he suspects that visitors will encounter several surprises. "When people think of western American art, they think primarily of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell," he said. "However, this exhibition highlights sculptors who are outside the traditional canon of western American art. I believe audiences will be impressed by the diversity of artists who created sophisticated representations of the American West."
Frederick William MacMonnies (American, 1863–1937). Pioneer Monument, 1907–11 (dedicated 1911). Broadway and Colfax, Denver. Photograph: Jeff Wells, Denver Art Museum
Denverites may be especially interested to learn about a familiar landmark, Frederick William MacMonnies's Pioneer Monument, located on the corner of Broadway and Colfax. Two reductions based on the statue are displayed in the exhibition: MacMonnies's Kit Carson and The Hunter. Although a recognizable monument, the history behind the work may be less familiar. "MacMonnies was awarded the commission despite having no real connection to the West," Thomas noted. "In fact, the artist was an expatriate living in France at the time, and he cast the monument and its bronze reductions at a Parisian foundry." Moreover, MacMonnies had originally planned to place an American Indian at the top of the fountain; however, this plan was rejected as "inappropriate," and after visiting Denver, he settled instead on the figure of Christopher "Kit" Carson.
Frederick William MacMonnies (American, 1863–1937). Left: Kit Carson, ca. 1907–11 (cast by 1915). Bronze, 25 1/8 x 16 3/4 x 10 3/8 in. (63.8 x 42.5 x 26.4 cm). Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay, New York (SAHI-919); Right: The Hunter (Pioneer Monument, sketch), ca. 1907–11 (cast 1916). Bronze, 14 1/2 x 21 x 7 7/8 in. (36.8 x 53.3 x 20 cm). Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma (0826.96)
The American West in Bronze, 1850–1925 will be on display at the Denver Art Museum through August 31, 2014. The exhibition is accompanied by an audio tour and several public programs, including "Tactile Tables" and a course for adults called "Untitled #67 (Chain Reaction)." For up-to-date information on all public programs, visit http://denverartmuseum.org.
As the exhibition continues its journey to the American West, I hope that you will share your thoughts and observations about the artists and bronze sculptures that have been featured in this blog. Next Wednesday, exhibition co-curator Thayer Tolles will share her final thoughts on The American West in Bronze, 1850–1925 after it concludes its run at the Met.