C.M. Russell Museum raises $5.4 million at annual summer sale

The C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls announced results from The Russell Summer Sale. The sale is the museum’s most important annual fundraising event, typically accruing millions of dollars in art sales. This year’s sale was no exception. On Tuesday the art museum reported $5.4 million in gross sales, nearly half of which was obtained from the sale of Charles M. Russell's oil painting“Piegans.”

“We are thrilled with the enthusiastic audience response to the stellar western art on sale during The Russell,” said Jessica Nebel, senior director of operations and human resources. “This level of sales just highlights the impressive quality of art available at this show.”

While numerous works of art created by various artists were sold at the event, the most anticipated auction pieces were all works by the famed cowboy artist. The most important of these was “Piegans.” Painted by Russell in 1908, the watercolor depicts the legendary Blackfeet Chief, White Quiver, leading to braves across Montana’s high plains leading a stolen horse.

According to the auction catalog, "Piegans" was sold from a private collection in Texas and was estimated to bring between $2.6 million and $3.0 million. When the gavel dropped "Piegans" met that estimate, going for $2.65 million to an unidentified bidder.

Other auction items of note were a watercolor by Russell titled “Hunter’s Rest” that sold for $375,000, a second Russell watercolor, “Cavalry Mounts for the Brave,” that brought a winning bid of $300,000, and an illustrated letter Russell wrote shortly before his death in 1926 to his friend Mose Kaufman. The letter brought a high bid of $250,000.

Complete sales results can be found on the website, cmrussell.org. Net proceeds from The Summer Russell Sale goes to the C.M. Russell Museum for use in supporting events, acquisitions, and staffing. While The Russell has been held in August for the last three years, the museum is moving the event back to its traditional March schedule during Western Art Week next year. It will be held March 14-16, 2024, when more authentic western artwork will be showcased at the auction. Keep up to date on The Russell and all other upcoming events at the museum by visiting the website: cmrussell.org/experience/upcoming-events/.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: C.M Russell Museum summer art sale and fundraiser results