VERSO
Label, Arizona West Galleries, Scottsdale, Arizona
Label, Mitchell Brown Fine Art, Scottsdale, Arizona

Picking Up the Cap is included in the Frederic Remington Catalogue Raisonné as number 1338.

Thomas A. Petrie writes, “Picking Up the Cap appears to be based on a critically important lesson learned by Army officers in Texas from dealing with Comanche warriors. As S. C. Gwynne states while describing the legendary horsemanship involving the training of young Comanche warriors: ‘[such] children were given their own horses [at the age of four or five] soon the boys were expected to learn tricks which included picking up objects on the ground at a gallop. The young rider would start with light objects and move to progressively heavier objects until finally, without assistance and at a full gallop could pick up a man. [Thus] Rescuing a fallen comrade was seen as the most basic obligation of a [young] Comanche warrior[!].’

“In a noteworthy conclusion to his earlier remarks, Peter Hassrick has distinctly acknowledged: ‘As much as he loved horses and understood their place as a subject in art, Remington was not an animal painter in the true sense.… Invariably, Remington placed the horse in juxtaposition to man. Never did he make the horse a symbol of man, and never did he paint the horse with human characteristics, a common failing of many animal painters. Remington regarded the horse as inherently graceful and its movements, even in slow gaits, as suggestive of speed, agility, and strength. For Remington, the horse and action were synonymous.’

“The images delivered by Remington in Picking Up the Cap and Jump and Cut epitomize for both the viewer and collector Hassrick’s deeply considered regard for the artistic genius so often required in skillfully ‘juxtapositioning’ these agile creatures alongside of their driven, yet still fully disciplined and focused riders.”

PROVENANCE
Kennedy Galleries, New York, New York
Private collection
Christie’s, New York, New York, 1989
Private collection
Christie’s, New York, New York, 1990
Private collection, Colorado

LITERATURE
Harper’s Weekly, June 4, 1892, p. 543, illustrated

Additional Resources

• Frederic Remington’s Past Results
• View Condition Report

Condition ReportAs viewed through glass. Piece appears to be in good condition with slight toning.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders; such statements are educated opinions and should not be regarded as facts. The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has no responsibility for any errors or omissions.