Ruth Monro Augur - Austin Texas - Butterfield Line Stagecoach

Description: Handsome original pen & ink drawing on artist paper stock, cut out and glued to heavier stock. Unframed. Depicts a stagecoach labeled "Butterfield Line". There are 2 fellows on the driver's seat, people inside, and a team of 8 horses pulling the stage. Drawn by noted Western (primarily Texas & Oklahoma) artist Ruth Monro Augur, and signed in ink beneath the stagecoach's front-right wheel: "Augur". In the upper, right-hand corner, the artist wrote, in pencil: "Pioneer #1". In the upper, left-hand corner the artist has written in pencil: "Lower left corner". There's a notation on reverse, in ink, in the artist's hand: "State house Mural Austin 34". (Note: I do not know whether any such mural was actually created by her, or whether perhaps this drawing was a study for a mural which was contemplated.) This is an original drawing -- and not a copy. This drawing measures approx. 13.9 wide and 3.75" high.The artist was a noted illustrator, and was classically trained. (See biography, below.). Please examine pictures carefully to review this drawing's condition. Condition is commensurate with age. No rips or tears, and no folds. As mentioned above, Miss Augur drew the stagecoach and horses on paper, then carefully cut the drawing out and glued it to a slightly stiffer paper stock. After gluing, she added a few touches; e.g. the left-most dots of dust and the tops of the trunks/packages on top of the coach are drawn on the heavier stock paper. Black ink is dark and distinct. Paper shows a bit of darkening from age (it's nearly 90 years old...), but it's in nice shape and is eminently frame-able and displayable. I have a similar piece framed and hanging on my wall, and personally think that it looks superb.Thank you. ________________________________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHY: RUTH MONRO AUGUR - 1886 - 1967. Overview: Born in Austin, Texas and raised in Denver, Colorado where she studied at the Student School of Art, Ruth Auger became an artist of the West, with her most recognized achievement being six murals, completed in 1937 and covering 1136 square feet, of the history of the Cherokee Strip Run for the courthouse in Enid, Oklahoma. As a painter, she also depicted army officer and other portraits, horse studies, mountain landscapes, and cowboy figures. Background: In 1905 she won a scholarship to the New York School of Art, where she was a student of Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase. About ten years later, she studied in California at Carmel for summer school, the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She spent many years in the newspaper business, with art being a secondary activity. From 1917 to 1929, she was registrar at the Texas College of mines and Metallurgy, and was also the society editor for the "El Paso Herald" and the "El Paso Times". In the early-to-mid-1930's, she owned and operated a traveling puppet show: "Augur's Marionettes" -- variously known as "Auger's (SIC) Hollywood Revue". At the time, she billed herself as "Monro Augur" (or, variously, "Auger".) She made and painted her own marionettes; many of which were made to depict movie stars of the day; e.g. Joe E. Brown, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, William Powell, Ann Harding, Marie Dressler, Will Rogers. Others of her marionettes were of cowboys, indians, Spanish priests and monks, prospectors... Except for the movie stars, all were Western-related. Performed in Los Angeles and in cities throughout the West. It was upon retirement from the puppet business that she undertook commissions to paint murals. Following her stint with the marionettes, she won a Works Progress Administration ("WPA") commission to paint murals in Enid, Oklahoma, and in 1937 she settled in that town. For 25 years, she served as staff artist for the Harlow Publishing Company, and many of her illustrations had western themes. She also taught at the Municipal Art Gallery. Much of her fine art painting was completed in her spare time from her professional jobs. Of note: She apparently typically signed her works "Augur", or "Ruth Augur" or "Ruth Monro Augur". On a few paintings and drawings, she spelled her last name "Auger". Too, she occasionally signed her works with only her middle and last names; i.e. "Monro Augur". Sources: "An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West" by Phil Kovinick and Marian Yoshiki-Kovinick "Texas Painters, Sculptors & Graphic Artists" by John and Deborah Powers ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please view all pictures carefully in order to judge condition for yourself. Minor wear commensurate with age. Please ask all questions before purchasing or placing an auction bid, and I’ll do my best to supply answers. If the item is sold at auction, payment is due within 48 hours of end of auction. If the item is sold as a “buy it now”, payment is due immediately upon purchase. If you anticipate that you’ll be unable to handle these time-frames, please contact me before making a bid and/or purchasing. I’ll do my utmost to work with you and to accommodate your needs. Shipping available to United States only. No international shipments. 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Price: 375 USD

Location: , Maryland

End Time: 2025-01-12T00:52:31.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.95 USD