Frederic Remington 1861-1909

Private Collection
J.N. Bartfield Galleries, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above, circa 1978

Bruce Wear, The Bronze World of Frederic Remington, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1966, p. 78, illustration of another example p. 79
Harold McCracken, The Frederic Remington Book: A Pictorial History of the West, Garden City, New York, 1966, illustration of another example fig. 374
Peter Hassrick, Frederic Remington: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture in the Amon Carter Museum and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation Collections, New York, 1973, no. 88, p. 200, illustration of another example p. 201
Patricia Janis Broder, Bronzes of the American West, New York, 1974, illustration of another example p. 128
Michael Edward Shapiro, Cast and Recast: The Sculpture of Frederic Remington, Washington, D.C., 1981, pp. 110, illustrations of other examples figs. 49-50
Michael Edward Shapiro and Peter Hassrick, Frederic Remington: The Masterworks, New York, 1988, pp. 67, 210, 211, illustration of another example p. 213
Michael D. Greenbaum, Icons of the West: Frederic Remington's Sculpture, Ogdensburg, New York, 1996, pp. 123-128, 197, illustrations of other examples pp. 124-128

Very good condition. Bronze rests on a 2 ¾ inch wooden base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Remington first modeled The Rattlesnake in 1904 exploring, as he did with the Bronco Buster, the technical problems of such a complex and active composition, adding the additional challenge of twisting the horse beneath itself as it recoils from the snake. As Peter Hassrick has written: "The Rattlesnake (sometimes referred to as The Snake in the Path) is Remington's most graceful, sculptural rendition of the bucking horse in motion. The powerful thrust of the frightened horse and the desperate counterbalancing of the rider are expressed with a vigorous sweep and flow that make this bronze both eloquent and powerful. All movement and attention focus on a central point. All lines within the swirling configuration are directed toward one thing, the inconspicuous but deadly rattler in the foreground" (Frederic Remington: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture in the Amon Carter Museum and The Sid W. Richardson Foundation Collections, New York, 1973, p. 200).  As with The Bronco Buster, Remington first made a small 20 inch version, but by 1908, he had remodeled it to the larger, more familiar version.