AMERICAN SCHOOL, 19TH CENTURY (AFTER WILLIAM T. RANNEY) The Trapper's Last Shot.
Oil on canvas, circa 1850. 495x686 mm; 19 1/2x27 inches.
The variations of Ranney's paintings are discussed in depth in Francis S. Grubar's article "Ranney's The Trapper's Last Shot," American Art Journal, 1970, volume II, Number 1, pages 92-99: "In the course of research undertaken for Ranney's first major retrospective exhibition initiated by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in the early 1960s, it soon became obvious that there were at least two paintings by the artist of this theme. The Bulletin Of The American Art-Union for April 1, 1850, stated that Ranney had finished a characteristic scene, the Last Bullet, which '. . . will probably be exhibited shortly, either at the academy or in the Art-Union Gallery.' The same issue mentioned that the Western Art-Union of Cincinnati had selected as its print to be distributed to each member for that year a large engraving by Booth from Ranney's The Trapper's Last Shot, a clear indication that a painting of the same title had already been purchased by the Western Art-Union; it was the custom for the art unions to offer prints of pictures in their possession to increase the membership rolls before their annual distributions took place."
Although both of these paintings have been identified, "Still another picture by Ranney related to The Trapper's Last Shot may exist. A year after his death, an exhibition and sale was held for the benefit of the artist's family. Number 178 in the catalogue is entitled Last Shot. The only other information known at this time is that it was purchased by 'Brooking' for $50 which suggests a work of some importance, judging from the price range in the sale."
