The Trapper's Last Shot

New York: J.M. Emerson & Co. Engraving. Measures 21 5/8" x 26 3/8". Scuffs along margins and expert long repair lower right.<br/><br/> Artist William T. Ranney (1813-1857) was a prominent painter in the mid-19th century, known for his sporting scenes and Revolutionary War depictions. Influenced by his military experience with the Texan Army, his work differed from many New York artists as it reflected his enthusiasm for Western themes. He painted many scenes from hunting on the marshes near his home and studio in West Hoboken, NJ (present-day Union City). This painting, originally titled "The Last Bullet" and then "The Last Shot", was a great success for Ranney, and was purchased by the Western-Art Union of Cincinnati in 1850 and selected for engraved prints to be distributed to members. The engraving was done by T. Dwight Booth. The scene, with two riders, speaks to the American frontier and the dynamism of the wild west.<br/><br/>