PROPERTY FROM THE DUFFY AND TINA OYSTER FOUNDATION. TOM LOVELL (American, 1909-1997). Fremont Crossing the Rockies. Oi...

Description

PROPERTY FROM THE DUFFY AND TINA OYSTER FOUNDATION

TOM LOVELL (American, 1909-1997)
Fremont Crossing the Rockies
Oil on canvas
22 x 32 inches (55.9 x 81.3 cm)
Signed upper right: Tom Lovell

PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, acquired directly from the artist.

Prior to his colorful roles as a California senator, Republican presidential candidate, and Union general, John Charles Fremont claimed the title of "Pathfinder" for his seminal involvement in surveying the West. As a young officer in the U.S. Topographical Corps during the 1840s, Fremont exhibited sufficient pluck and daring to place him in charge of four major geographic expeditions between the Rocky Mountains and California: his first, in 1842, introduced him to scout Kit Carson, who helped him navigate the South Pass on the Continental Divide and map the best route to Oregon; his second, between 1843-1844, charted the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Fort Vancouver, Washington; his third, beginning in 1845, followed the Arkansas River and explored the Rockies and the Great Salt Lake before culminating in 1848 in California, where he fought for the region's independence from Mexico; his fourth, organized in 1848 to identify a railroad passage through the southern Rockies, resulted in disaster. Indeed, for this particular expedition, Fremont insisted that his party of 36 men and 120 mules travel during the winter, as an experiment to test the feasibility of railroad passage in extreme weather conditions. While in the La Garita Mountains, a portion of the Colorado Rockies, a blizzard struck the group, killing all the animals - 100 in a single night - and 11 men, the rest ultimately retreating in defeat to Taos.

For Fremont Crossing the Rockies, artist Tom Lovell closely interpreted Fremont's own journal account of the failed fourth expedition. Here he depicts the fateful moment as the blizzard engulfs the mountain pass: on the right, six men - a boyish Fremont seated in the foreground; to his right, mountain man William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams, exhaling icy breath; an Indian guide behind; and an accompanying botanist, geographer, and laborer - huddle together after frantically chopping down trees for firewood. Not even Fremont's rifle can protect the group from the onslaught of wind, which evokes reactions of both fear and stoicism. Arcing around the men is a swath of dying or dead mules, a harbinger of the human loss.

A New York illustrator turned painter of the American West, Tom Lovell shaped a successful career with his narrative imagery such as Fremont Crossing the Rockies. For forty years, he illustrated for magazines, including Collier's, Life, McCall's, and The Saturday Evening Post, as well as for pulp fiction, learning how to consolidate the critical elements of a story into a single, dramatic scene: "The message on the covers had to outscream a hundred different others." A 1969 commission for fourteen paintings of southwestern history revived Lovell's childhood interest in Native Americans and the settling of the West, which became new favorite subjects. Residing in Santa Fe from 1975 until his death in 1997, he won numerous awards in the fields of illustration and western art, notably two gold medals from both the Society of Illustrators and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Prix de West from the National Academy of Western Art.









More information about TOM LOVELL. See also: Lovell, Tom, Tom Lovell Artist.

*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report. Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.