JOHN FORD CLYMER
MEDIUM: OIL ON CANVAS
DIMENSIONS: 24 X 48 INCHES
ESTIMATE: $175,000.00 – $275,000.00
SIGNED/CA AND DATED 1980 LOWER RIGHT
Wow, there’s a lot happening here and I have no clue why. This was near the end of Clymer’s time when he was doing mostly easel art of westerns. There are figures in the background like it is a drive or something. Usually Clymer did something with a basis in fact but I am clueless here. Anyone know?
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Looks to me like all species are running together to flee a brush fire. Prey/predator relationships are set aside in such events. Odd that some seem to be behind the fire – maybe it is still burning behind them and jumped ahead as well so they have no choice but to keep going and try to get ahead of it. The creek would represent a hope of safety, though it does not look wide enough to serve as an effective fire break – but the impression is there.
Looks like dust not fire.
Guys with rifles in back.
If that is Palo Duro Canyon, the stream might be the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River.
Charley Goodnight established a ranch there sometime after the Indians were cleared out. Those riders might be his cowboys. One of the things he his noted for is keeping a herd of buffalo on his ranch.
But I don’t know.