Russell, Charles Marion (1864-1926), was an American painter and sculptor famous for his scenes of cowboys and life in the West. Russell’s work shows action and great detail, with authentic backgrounds and settings. Russell taught himself art. He worked almost equally well with pen-and-ink, oil paint or water color, and clay. He also wrote stories about the West, which were published with his illustrations.
Russell was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 19, 1864. As a child, he loved to sketch and model animals, cowboys, and Indians. Because of his interest in the West, his parents let him visit the Montana Territory when he was 16 years old. He quickly made Montana his permanent home. Russell earned his living as a hunter for 2 years and then worked as a cowboy for about 10 years. He lived with the Blood Indians in Canada one winter. His experiences provided dramatic, often humorous material for his paintings and sculptures.
In 1893, Russell gave up cowboy living so that he could paint and sculpt full-time. Three years later, he married Nancy Cooper, who encouraged his artistic career. Russell died on October 24, 1926. His statue represents Montana in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
