296

Carl Rungius (1869-1959), Pronghorn Antelope, c.1900
Dimensions: 29 1/4 x 46
Framed/base Dimensions: 33 1/2 x 50 1/2 x 2 1/2
Signature: signed lower right: C. Rungius

oil on canvas
29 1/4 x 46 in.

  • Provenance: Norman James, Baltimore, likely purchased directly from the artist
    Kende Galleries of Gimbel Brothers, New York, March 1944, Lot 25
    Dr. James Thorington, Philadelphia, acquired from the above
    Private Collection, Princeton, NJ, gift from the above
    Private Collection, Pennsylvania, gift from the above in the mid 1990s
  • Notes:

    “My decision to cut all ties with the Old World and to live in America for good was due in no small part to this first Wyoming trip. For my heart was in the West.” – Carl Rungius

    Widely recognized as the premier painter of North American wildlife, Carl Rungius was born in Germany in 1869 and classically trained at the Royal Academy of Arts in Berlin. He first came to North America in 1894 on a hunting trip to Maine and stayed on to spend the following summer hunting in Wyoming.

    An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Rungius spent considerable time in the wilderness studying animal anatomy and behavior firsthand. Direct observation lent his work a sense of authenticity and immediacy that set it apart from many of his contemporaries.

    Rungius's approach to wildlife painting was groundbreaking for his time. He was among the first artists in early 20th century North America to merge wildlife and landscape painting, situating animals within their natural environments. He presented wildlife in a setting seemingly untouched by mankind, projecting an image of the West as unspoiled, remote, and wild.

    This approach helped shift wildlife painting toward an aesthetic of respect and ecological consciousness. His work aligns with early twentieth-century conservation ideals, as exemplified by figures like Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, who saw the American wilderness as a resource to be appreciated and preserved rather than exploited. Painting with a keen eye to both natural beauty and ecological accuracy, it is no surprise that Rungius became a central figure in the burgeoning conservation movement of his time.

    Pronghorn Antelope features a small herd standing in an open sagebrush plain, likely western Wyoming. The animals, with their distinctive markings, are rendered with remarkable anatomical accuracy. The leading buck stands alert with head turned in both vigilance and curiosity. As does the pronghorn second from the right, possibly a young buck, except it is staring directly at the viewer, a subtle message from the artist that the viewer is present and need not be merely a bystander. The does, clustered together, subtly suggest the social structure and wariness of this iconic North American species.

    Rungius’ use of light is central to the painting’s impact. Delicate sunlight bathes the animals and landscape, casting soft shadows that ground each figure in the space. The palette of warm ochres, browns, and muted greens accurately portrays the tones of the arid plain. The landscape, texturally defined in the foreground, gradually fades into the distant horizon, heightening the contrast with the defined rendering of the animals. This atmospheric effect imparts a sense of tranquility, freedom, and vastness inherent in the Western landscape.

    This work will be included in the forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné, currently being prepared by Adam Duncan Harris, Ph.D., Grainger/Kerr Director of the Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné, an independent project of the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

  • Condition: The painting appears to be in very good condition after cleaning and restoration by the WCCFA. For further information on the condition of this lot please contact [email protected].

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September 13, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
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