"“Kit Carson, The Famous American Frontiersman” " Lot no. 3987
By George Hand Wright (1872-1951)
1905 (Estimated)
21.25" x 15.00”
Ink and Gouache
Signed Lower Right
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Story illustration for “Kit Carson, The Famous American Frontiersman” by William S. Bridgman for Munsey’s, published December 1909, page 333.
Christopher Houston “Kit” Carson was a legendary American frontiersman, who variously served the roles of fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. His exploits were so widely documented and embellished in contemporary biographies and news articles that he became a mythic figure, with with sensationalized stories about him featured in popular dime novels.
This dramatic scene illustrates Kit Carson’s involvement in the Mexican-American War. With twenty-five of his frontiersmen, Carson helped a small body of U.S. troops secure a victory against the Mexican army in Southern California.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
The son of a blacksmith, George Hand Wright always retained a sympathy for rustic subjects and working people in his illustrations for The Century, Scribner’s, Harper’s, The Saturday Evening Post and other publications. He researched his pictorial material as a reporter, filling innumerable sketch books and making his finished illustrations from these on-the-spot drawings. In fact, many of his sketches were reproduced directly in the magazines as reportorial coverage for accompanying articles. He made no distinction in approach between these commissioned illustrations and the fine arts prints, etchings or pastels to which he restricted himself in his later years.
Wright studied at the Spring Garden Institute and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. He was a member of the Westport Artists, The Salmagundi Club, the Dutch Treat Club and the Society of American Etchers. Wright served as president of the Society of Illustrators in 1926 and 1927.