Charles M. Russell: A Catalogue Raisonné is the definitive scholarly reference documenting the complete known body of work by Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), the iconic American artist of the Old West. Often referred to as “the cowboy artist,” Russell was not only a painter and sculptor but also a storyteller, historian, and passionate advocate for Native American cultures and the vanishing frontier. This meticulously researched catalogue raisonné provides an authoritative, comprehensive inventory of his artistic output.
Russell produced an estimated 4,000+ works during his lifetime, many of them undocumented or dispersed among private collections. This catalogue brings scholarly rigor to a field long dominated by myth and anecdote. It helps distinguish authentic Russell works from copies, forgeries, or misattributed pieces—a critical service given Russell’s enduring popularity and the high market value of his art.
The project also contextualizes Russell not just as an illustrator of cowboy life, but as a nuanced observer of cross-cultural encounters, environmental change, and Western mythology. His illustrated letters—often combining image and narrative—are treated as serious artistic and historical documents.
Charles M. Russell: A Catalogue Raisonné is far more than an inventory—it is a monumental scholarly achievement that preserves, clarifies, and celebrates the artistic heritage of one of America’s most beloved and authentic voices of the Western frontier. It stands as the cornerstone reference for anyone studying, collecting, or exhibiting the work of C.M. Russell.
