Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Frederic Remington died in 1909; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1979.
In context
ugly — Frederic Remington
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 48 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Frederic Remington (1861–1909) every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1890 Main working years: 1890–1904 Late works: from 1904
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/frederic-remington-ugly-9GEKJB-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Rosy Brown #dab36a
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 35.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 288 works by this artist, of which 143 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Canton, United States of America
Frederic Sackrider Remington, born in Canton, New York, on October 4, 1861, wasn’t a product of the Wild West he so vividly depicted; rather, he was an Easterner who forged his artistic identity through fascination and dedicated study. His lineage hinted at a life far removed from dusty trails and cavalry charges – French Basque ancestry mingled with staunchly Republican New England roots, a father who was a Civil War colonel and newspaper editor, and connections to the famed Remington Arms dynasty through distant cousins. Yet, it was an early exposure to military themes, coupled with a restless spirit and a keen eye for storytelling, that set him on a path toward becoming arguably the most recognizable artist of the American West. His childhood moved to Bloomington, Illinois, then back to Canton and finally Ogdensburg, New York, but his imagination remained captivated by tales of frontier life. Though initially steered towards a military education at Vermont Episcopal Institute, Remington’s true calling lay not in following orders, but in observing and interpreting the world around him through art. A brief stint at Yale University confirmed this; football and sketching held far more appeal than formal academic pursuits.
Remington’s artistic journey began not with grand canvases, but with ink and paper. His first published work, a cartoon for the Yale Courant, signaled an early aptitude for capturing action and narrative. A pivotal trip to Montana in 1881 ignited his lifelong obsession with the West. This wasn't merely a tourist’s gaze; Remington sought to immerse himself in the culture, observing cowboys, Native Americans, and the landscape itself. He initially attempted ranching and mining ventures, but these proved unsuccessful, freeing him to fully dedicate himself to art. Returning East, he quickly established himself as an illustrator for magazines like Harper's Weekly and Collier’s, his dynamic depictions of Western scenes captivating a national audience hungry for stories of the frontier. These illustrations weren’t simply reportage; they were infused with drama, energy, and a romanticized vision of the West that resonated deeply with the public imagination. It was through this work that Remington honed his skills in composition, capturing movement, and conveying emotion – qualities that would later define his paintings. He received minimal formal training beyond some drawing classes at Yale and a short period at the Art Students League, developing instead a distinctive style characterized by energetic brushwork, bold colors, and a focus on realism blended with dramatic flair.
Remington’s art is inextricably linked to a specific moment in American history – the twilight of the Old West. His canvases are populated by iconic figures: rugged cowboys driving cattle, stoic Native Americans facing displacement, and U.S. Cavalry soldiers engaged in both heroic battles and tragic conflicts. He didn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of frontier life, but his work often leans towards a romanticized portrayal, emphasizing courage, adventure, and the clash of cultures. His paintings aren’t simply historical documents; they are evocative narratives that explore themes of heroism, loss, and the inevitable march of progress. Remington's style evolved over time, moving from tighter, more academic renderings to looser, more expressive brushwork. He was a master of capturing movement – horses galloping across the plains, cowboys wrestling steers, soldiers charging into battle. He often employed quick sketches and photographs as reference material, but his art always transcended mere imitation, imbued with his own unique vision and emotional intensity. Notable works like My Ranch, Waiting in the Moonlight, Ridden Down (1905), and The Long-Horn Cattle Sign (1908) exemplify his ability to capture both the grandeur and the vulnerability of the American West.
Frederic Remington died unexpectedly in 1909 at the age of 48, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to captivate audiences today. His impact on Western art is undeniable; he didn’t just depict the West, he helped define it for generations of Americans. He established a visual language for the frontier – an iconography of cowboys, Indians, and cavalrymen that became deeply ingrained in popular culture.
His work inspired countless other artists, including N.C. Wyeth and Zane Grey.
The Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York, stands as a testament to his enduring legacy, preserving an extensive collection of his paintings, sculptures, and archival materials.
His art continues to be exhibited in major museums across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Remington’s depictions, while sometimes criticized for their romanticized portrayal of the West, offer a valuable glimpse into a pivotal era in American history. He captured not just what was, but also what people believed about the West – its myths, its legends, and its enduring appeal. He remains a powerful symbol of the American spirit—a chronicler of a vanishing world who transformed it into an enduring artistic legacy.
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Look closely
ugly — Frederic Remington
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
Hand-painted copies of "ugly" by Frederic Remington are sold on this website: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, ordered from its Hand-Painted Reproduction page.
The colors of "ugly" by Frederic Remington show a clear color presence saturation with a vivid intensity.
An ochre to sepia hue runs through "ugly" by Frederic Remington.