Lot 51

Framed Pen & Ink on Paper "Old Timer" by Frederic Remington

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Framed Pen & Ink on Paper "Old Timer" by Frederic Remington

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000

Starting Bid: $15,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Framed Pen & Ink on Paper "Old Timer" Drawing by Frederic Remington Artist: Frederic Remington (1861-1909) Title: Old Timer Year Created: 1888 Medium: Pen and ink on paper Size: 6 x 8.5 inches Frame Size: 14 7/8 x 17 5/8 inches. Signed and dated on the lower right. Catalogue Raisonné: Hassrick & Webster, Frederic Remington Catalogue Raisonné, No. 01009.1 Frederic Remington’s Old Timer (1888) is a superb example of the artist’s early pen-and-ink illustration work and a compelling study of the seasoned frontier veteran. Executed with bold, economical linework, Remington captures the quiet dignity and hard-earned experience of a weathered plainsman seated outside a building with his hat pulled low over his eyes. A double-loop holster with revolver rests at his hip, and riding boots complete the unmistakable silhouette of a man shaped by life in the saddle. Remington remains among the most influential and popular artists of the American West. His sketches of western life in the late 19th century formed the foundation of an extraordinary career and were rooted in firsthand experience across the frontier. Hundreds of his illustrations appeared in major publications during his lifetime, shaping public perception of the West and continuing to influence artists to this day. One of his first major assignments came in 1888, the same year as this drawing, when he illustrated fellow New Yorker Theodore Roosevelt’s "Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail," a work featuring similarly authentic frontier characters. Roosevelt later remarked, “I regard Frederic Remington as one of the Americans who has done real work for the country; and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.” Created during this formative period, Old Timer reflects Remington’s unmatched ability to distill personality through posture, gesture, and minimal detail. The spontaneous line work and absence of unnecessary embellishment place full emphasis on character, allowing the viewer to engage directly with Remington’s storytelling. Drawings from this early illustration period are especially desirable for their immediacy and authenticity, representing the purest expression of the artist’s observational skill. Documented in the Frederic Remington catalogue raisonné of drawings as No. 01009.1, Old Timer stands as a classic example of Remington’s early frontier imagery and his ability to elevate a single figure into a timeless symbol of the American West.

Manufacturer: None

Model: None

Class: Other

  • Provenance: Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, July 2009 and July 2021; A Private Collection from Arkansas
  • Condition: Excellent with crisp illustration and signature, faint discoloration of the paper, and minor wear on the frame.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000