82

Tom Lovell (1909-1997), Watering Horses, 1992
Dimensions: 26 x 36
Framed/base Dimensions: 36 3/4 x 46 3/4 x 1 7/8
Signature: signed and dated lower left: Tom Lovell NAWA © 1992
verso: titled, signed and dated

oil on canvas
26 x 36 in.

  • Provenance: National Cowboy Hall of Fame, National Academy Western Art Show, 1992
    Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, July 1997, Lot 232
    Acquired by KSA Industries, Inc. (label verso) from the above
  • Exhibited: National Academy Western Art Show, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK, 1992
  • Notes:

    Titans of the American West from KSA Industries, Inc: A Bud Adams Company

    “According to John Ewers, the family care of horses was generally entrusted to boys except during the most severe winter months, when men of the household took over. When camp was not on the move, horses were driven to the nearest lake or stream three times a day. In the evening after the final watering, the lead mare would be hobbled to prevent the herd from straying. Often it was necessary to break the new skim of ice that had formed during the night.” – Tom Lovell

    Tom Lovell, celebrated as one of the deans of Western art, often focused on capturing moments steeped in everyday reality and historical nuance. In this work, the effort and caution of travel through harsh winter conditions are palpable. The horses drink carefully at the icy edge, steaming breath visible, while the men watch alertly, aware of the vulnerabilities such a stop brings. Dogs flank the party, adding a sense of alertness and motion—the assurance of companionship.

    The landscape is rendered with Lovell’s characteristic precision. Snow blankets the ground and trees, creating a sense of stillness and isolation, while the forested mountains in the background evoke the daunting journey ahead or behind. This careful attention to setting not only provides context but also underscores the resilience and adaptability of the people and animals who inhabited and traversed these lands.

    Lovell’s approach was always that of a storyteller with a brush. He immersed himself in research on Native American history, the customs of the Great Plains peoples, and the practical realities of frontier life. This commitment infuses his works with an authenticity that invites the viewer to consider the lived experiences behind his subjects—moments of hardship and perseverance, but also of camaraderie and quiet beauty in everyday tasks.

    Watering Horses, like much of Lovell’s oeuvre, bridges the gap between illustration and fine art. His legacy is that of a custodian of Western heritage: each painting an invitation to step into a world defined by challenge, endurance, and a connection to the land.

  • Condition: The painting and the frame both appear to be in very good condition. The painting was viewed under blacklight and does not show any indication of inpainting.

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