| A Collector's Guide
to the Prints of Olaf Wieghorst by James E. Drye |
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About this book: Olaf Wieghorst (1899-1988) was one of the foremost western artists of the 20th Century, earning him the title "Dean of Western Artists." Olaf was a real cowboy and horseman. His paintings were a record of his own experiences. The legacy of art he left us had a truth and realism seldom matched. The complete works of Olaf Wieghorst would fill many volumes this size. This book was intended to focus on the art which became limited and open edition prints. As an aid to collectors I have compiled information on the ninety-two major prints Olaf Wieghorst released over a period of thirty years. I have also included information on other prints, posters, art books, magazines featuring the history and works of this artist. A price guide for these prints is also included. |
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Beef Herd
| "This is one of the few large paintings I have done. The cowboys are running a fine herd of beef down the hill to the ranch. I enjoy painting the storms of the wide western skies. It pretty well depicts the grandeur of the great American West." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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oil on canvas 34 x 48 inches Originally from the collection of Mrs. Justine Fenton
"Beef Herd" is from the "Heritage Series," one of five prints released in this series. This print came with a deluxe protective folio which features reproductions of two original pen and ink American cowboy drawings by Olaf Wieghorst and a certificate of authenticity. The images shown below are approximately 9 x 11 inches and 9 x 16 inches. |
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Boys in the Bunkhouse
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| "Boys in the Bunkhouse" was the name for a music album featuring the top country / pop pickers in Los Angeles. Producer Snuff Garrett, a friend of Olaf, and master studio guitarist Al Casey put this group together. Olaf created this painting for the cover of their album. |  |
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In this painting Olaf Wieghorst has portrayed a variety of magnificent horses, waiting patiently on their riders who are in the bunkhouse. We have a Paint, a Palomino, a Dapple-Gray, an Appaloosa, and a couple of Chestnuts. The realism with which Olaf paints his horses is truley amazing. oil on canvas
"Boys in the Bunkhouse" was the next print released after the "Classic Series" but does not belong to any set. This print did not come with a certificate of authenticity. |
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Corralling the Cavvy
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| "The Cavvy is sometimes called the remuda. These men are bringing in the horses early in the morning for the cowboys to pick out their mounts for the day." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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1960 oil on canvas 24 x 30 inches Originally from the collection of Malcom S. MacKay
"Corralling the Cavvy" is one of six prints from the "Classic Series." All six prints were made from paintings in the Malcom S. MacKay collection. There was a "Print Documentation" certificate for this print, which was similar to a certificate of authenticity. |
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| "I was down in Nogales, Arizona doing the movie 'McClintok' with John Wayne some years ago. I saw these horses tryin' to get in the shade of the old cottonwood tree. These trees are very typical of the area around the Mexican border." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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oil on canvas 20 x 25 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Cambell
"Dead Cottonwood" was an individually released print and not part of any set. |
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Drifting
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| A lone mounted cowboy with his packhorse carrying all his worldly goods, stands on a summit overlooking a huge valley. In this painting, the artist captures a sense of the loneliness in this drifting cowboy's life. Tripping through the country was something Olaf did in his early days as a cowboy. |  |
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| oil on canvas
Copyright Olaf Wieghorst, 1978 " Drifting" is from the "Suite of Fourteen," on of fourteen prints released in this series by American Masters and sold by The Wooden Bird. This was one of Olaf's paintings used as a backdrop for the credits in the movie "El Dorado," staring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Olaf Wieghorst as the "Swede." This print came with a certificate of authenticity. |
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Packing In
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| Olaf Wieghorst's paintings feautring horses coming down the moutnain trail have always been a favorite, and the prints made from these themes have been very popular. In this painting two mounted cowboys with their packhorses heavily loaded are traveling down this rugged mountain trail. |  |
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1960 oil on canvas 24 x 30 inches Originally from the collection of Malcom S. MacKay Collection
"Packing In" is one of six prints from the "Classic Series." All six prints were made from paintings in the Malcom S. MacKay collection. There was a "Print Documentation" ceritificate for this print, which was similar to a certificate of authenticity. |
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| "Some years ago I collaborated with my son Roy in doing a documentary film about my life as an artist. We went over into Arizona to Superstition Mountain and picked out a particular location. The documentary shows by time-lapse photography how this painting was made." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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Some People misinterpreted the title "partners" to represent a deceased cowboy strapped on the burro. If one uses a little imagination it does look as though the load on the burro could be a man. The true "Partner" however was the burro. "Partners" was used for the cover of the sound track for the documentary movie "Olaf Wieghorst - Painter of the American West," music composed and conducted by Al Capps. 1976 oil on canvas 28 x 38 inches From the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wieghorst
"Partners" is one of two prints published by Bon A Tirer. "Bon A Tirer" is French and translates to "the first pull" off the printing plates. Troy Murray owned the horse in this picture. Her name was "Gray Mare." This print came with a certificate of authenticity. |
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Range Horses
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| "Here the artist celebrates a noble creature which played such a significant role in the development of the west. These sturdy animals survived hardships imposed upon them by both nature and man. They are the embodiment of the phrase, survival of the fittest. |  |
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| As the Palomino grazes, three companions
areever alert, eyes turned to the left at something unknown but, perhaps,
bearing potential danger. The artist depicts these picturesque creatures
with great affection. In literature there are many references to vanishing
buffalo and grizzly as Monarchs of the Western landscape. Perhaps
this animal should enjoy a similar distinction. The artist would certainly
concur." (Martin E. Petersen, Curator of Paintings, San Diego
Museum of Art) 1977 oil on canvas 20 x 24 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. Frank Ferrara
"Range Horses" is from the "Golden West Collection Series I," one of six prints released in this series. This print came with a certificate of authenticity. |
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Roundup
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| "This painting belonged to President Eisenhower. During his term in the White House he had it hanging prominently in the Oval Office." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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| "I
exhibited this painting at the Thunderbird Ranch down in Palm Springs.
President Eisenhower saw it then and was very taken with it. I sent
it to him as a Christmas Gift. He later go two more of my paintings
and presently all of them hang in the Eisenhower Library in Abilene."
(Olaf Wieghorst) oil on canvas 52 x 38 inches Originally from the collection of Dwight D. Eisenhower
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| "The sketches for the 'Navajo Madonna' were done many years ago up on the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona. I used to watch Navajos come into the trading post for supplies and materials and that's where I got the idea. In the painting I used back lighting which I thought was very effective." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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"When I was up in the Navajo country I took part in some of their sings and ceremonies. I saw many of their squaws on donkeys and they usually had a papoose with them. I added some of the big bluffs that are so characteristic of Monument Valley. This painting was made into a fine limited edition, signed print." (Olaf Wieghorst) 1964 oil on canvas 22 x 20 inches Originally from the collection of Mrs. Olaf Wieghorst
"'Navajo Madonna' is one of Olaf's best known works. In November on 1982 the painting 'Navajo Madonna' sold for a reported $450,000. Three years later, in 1985, it and its mate, 'The Navajo' sold for a reported $1,000,000. Olaf originally did the 'Navajo Madonna' for an auction to benefit a Catholic hospital, recalls George Thackeray. When he finished it, he decided it was too good to give away. So he gave it to Mae. Everyone loved it, sain Mae. Prints were made. Finally we sold the painting, I thought, Oh he can do another. Now I wish we would have kept it and many more of Olaf's paintings." (Jan Jennings, Southwest Art, February 1989) Two more prints with a similar these were released later, "the Navajo" in 1983 and "The Navajo Family" in 1987. "The Navajo Madonna" and these two prints comprise what is called the "Madonna Trilogy." The 'Navajo Madonna' came in a special portfolio with information about the artist and two reproductions of pen drawings. The images shown are approximately 14 x 13 inches and 5 x 9 inches. Also included was copy of an appreciation letter from Senator Barry Goldwater about the print. This print did not come with a certificate of authenticity. |
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The Navajo
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| The Navajo man, companion of the Navajo Madonna, rests peacful and confident on his horse, silently looking out over Monument Valley. |  |
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| oil on canvas
"The Navajo" is from the "Madonna Trilogy," one of three prints in this set. This set spansfifteen years starting with the "Navajo Madonna," released in 1972, and ending with "Navajo Familt," released in 1987. Another unique characteristic of this set is the way Olaf signed the prints. All three were signed in ink on the image, instead of the usual practice of signing below the image in pencil. This print came in a special portfolio with information about the artist and two reproductions of pen and ink drawings. The images shown are approximately 11 x18 inches and 5 x 9 inches. Also included were a copy of an appreciation letter from Senator Barry Goldwater about the print and a certificate of authenticity. A limited edition collector's plate was also made from this painting. |
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The Navajo Family
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| "With
the beautiful painting 'The Navajo Family' brings to a close a compelling
story of a Navajo family living in the gradeur of Arizona's Monument
Valley. Time has quietly passed since 1972 and the birth of the "navajo Madonna,' a painting that captured the imagination of western art collectors and became a classic in the genre. |
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| In 1983 'The Navajo' joined the mother
and child in Monument Valley. A watchful and caring companion, he
embodied the same timeless quality as the Madonna. With 'The Navajo Family' Mr. Wieghorst gracefully completes this trilogy. The child has grown, yet still clings to his mother. The father has moved to their side, and symbolically points to an unknown future. Regardless of the outcome the artist leaves us with a sense that, for now, all is well in Monument Valley. 'The Navajo Family' is a reverent work, the sensitive portrayal of one of life's profound experiences. As suchit has a universal appeal, and is destined to become a valued possession at many levels." (Print jacket, by Hadley House) 1985 oil on canvas 30 x 36 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wieghorst
"The Navajo Family" is from the "Madonna Trilogy," the third of three prints in this set. The print came with a special portfolio with a certificate of authenticity. A reproduction from a pen and ink wash drawing of a Navajo sitting on a horse was also included with this print. |
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| On a cold snow covered mountain trail, a herdof horses are leaving the high country for greener pastures in the valley below. A bay mare is falling behind the herd so she can stay close to her young foal. She turns her head to lend encouragement as he stops to rest. He's "tired" from the long journey. |  |
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1963 oil on canvas 28 x 38 inches Originally from the collection of B. Gelker
"Tired" was an indivually released print and not part of any set. |
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Watering Hole
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| "I often sit on the rim of some canyon in the evening and watch horses come down to the river for water. They make a beautiful painting, and I do a lot of sketches on the subject." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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| 1958 oil on canvas 29 x 39 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. William J. Holliday Jr.
"Watering Hole" is from the Golden West Series Collection Series II," one of three prints released in this series. This print came with a certificate of authenticity. |
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Wild Ones
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| "A lot of cow outfits throughout the West in the fall of the year would turn their horses loose. Thos horses would be running wild all winter long, and in the spring you would round them up to run them in for the rounduo and they would be pretty wild." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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oil on canvas 24 x 36 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Dan May
"The Wild Ones" is from a set of two published by Bon A Tirer (The Great American Experience Series). This print came with a certificate of authenticity. |
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| "The painting 'Spring Rain' ws exhibited in Scottsdale, Arizona, a good many years ago. A critic there remarked that is was the wettest painting he had ever seen." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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oil on canvas 36 x 30 inches Originally from the collection of Mrs. Isel I. Solzman
"Spring Rain" is from the "Heritage Series," one of five prints released in this series. This print came with a special portfolio that had two separate print reproductions of original pen and ink American cowboy drawings by Olaf Wieghorst and a certificate of authenticity. The images shown below are approximately 7 x 12 inches and 8 x 12 inches. |
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Nighthawk
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| "He was usually a kid startin' out learnin' to be a cowboy. He's just sitting in the moonlight waiting for the time to pass 'til he can get in and get some breakfast. I sure have done a lot of that in my time." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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| 1971 oil on canvas 18 x 24 inches Originally from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Goodman
"Nighthawk" was an indivually released print and not part of any set. The painting was also titled "Old Timer" in several publications. |
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Buffalo Scout
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| "A Plains Indian is scouting for the vanishing herd of buffalo sometime in the early '80's. A friend of mine, a Paiute Indian, by the name of Jow Galvin posed for this particular painting. I also used him in several other of my works." (Olaf Wieghorst) |  |
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| "A
Paiute Indian named Joe Galvin posed for this painting. He passed
away soon after I did this, but I used in quite a few of my paintings.
This is in the Malcom S. MacKay Collection and some beautiful prints
have been made of this recently." (Olaf Wieghorst) 1968 oil on canvas 20 x 24 inches Originally from the collection of the Malcom S. MacKay
"Buffalo Scout" is one of six prints from the "Classic Series." All six prints were made from paintings in the Malcom S. "Bud" MacKay collection. A limited edition collector's plate was also made from this painting. There was a "Print Documentation" certificate for this print, which was similar to a certificate of authenticity. Bud MacKay's father, Malcom MacKay Sr., was a close friend of Charles M. Russel and owned one of the largest collections of his art. After the death of Malcom MacKay Sr., the MacKay family decided the Russell collection should go back to the state of Montana where it is now the core of the art at the Montana Historical Society. Feeling a loss for the priceless treasures he had once lived with, Bud MacKay set out to find a replacement. He searched for two years and finally one afternoon went into Grand Central and spotted one of Wieghorst's works. He purchased the painting and asked for the address of the artist. This was the beginning of a long friendship between Olaf Wieghorst and Malcom S. MacKay. |
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