to record them as well. They are painterly and
slightly impressionistic, but still very much
Russell works.”
Once again, The Russell bidders were
very kind to this new depiction of Russell: it
sold for $200,000 on estimates of $70,000 to
$85,000. For comparison purposes, the only
pieces that rival or top that at The Russell are
frequently works by Russell himself. Thomas
lays the interest at the feet of the great painter.
“People are fascinated by Russell and his look,
a look that I’m sure his wife helped cultivate
when she would remind him to put on his
sash and wear his hat. Nobody in the West
is as identifiable as Russell. Certainly not
Remington or others,” Thomas says. “And also,
Russell’s just fun to paint. He’s so distinctive.
And his personality was unique—he had a
kind of curmudgeonly personality, and yet
people say he was very funny.”
Finally, in 2017, The Russell offered
Thomas’ Steamy Night at Madame Dumont’s,
Fort Benton, Montana, and it sold for
$216,000, an artist world record. Though it
didn’t depict Russell, it certainly had a Russell
vibe to it as Western figures blast at each other
Andy Thomas, Hot Time in Ft. Benton, 2018, oil on linen, 26 x 46"
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), Utica (A Quiet Day in Utica), 1907, oil on canvas, 24/ x 36/".
Courtesy Sid Richardson Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.