Describing the history of this bronze, Russell historian Rick Stewart wrote, A Bronc Twister was “the eighth of Russell’s bronzes to be cast... Although Russell copyrighted this sculpture on July 21, 1911, as The Weaver, it seems not to have been exhibited under this title.” The original title refers to the bucking habits of a particularly exasperating type of horse. “As its back arches in the air, its front hooves strike out to the right and its back pair goes to the left. Striking the ground—usually with bone-jarring force—it will jump up again, this time putting its front hooves to the left and its back hooves to the right, weaving the hapless rider to and fro. Despite the aptness of Russell’s original title, calling the bronze Bucking Broncho or A Bronc Twister was probably more effective for describing the subject to the art public, and both titles were used.”

A copy of a December 3, 1995 Letter of Authenticity written by Ginger Renner will accompany the lot. The letter states in part, “In my opinion this is an authorized casting by Nancy Russell in her lifetime.”

PROVENANCE
Col. R. L. Harrison, Albuquerque, NM, 1940s
Present owner, by descent

LITERATURE
The West Remembered: Artists and Images 1837-1973 (San Francisco, CA: California Historical Society, 1973), pages 66 and 72, example illustrated
Earl Adams, “The Most Valuable Russell Bronzes” Persimmon Hill, Number 3 (Oklahoma City, OK: National Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1973), page 68, example illustrated
Earl Adams, “On the Russell Estate,” Persimmon Hill, Volume 11 (Oklahoma City, OK: National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, 1982), page 102, example illustrated
Rick Stewart, Charles M. Russell, Sculptor (Fort Worth, TX: Amon Carter Museum, 1994), pages 178- 185, example illustrated
Larry Len Peterson, Charles M. Russell: Legacy (Helena, MT: Falcon Publishing, 1999), page 244, example illustrated

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