Featured in Collier’s Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Sunset, and the Saturday Evening Post, Von Schmidt was a celebrated 20th Century American Illustrator. Originally from California, Von Schmidt moved across the country to study art at the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. He lived at the artist colony in New Rochelle, N.J. with other well known artists and illustrators of the time, including Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth. Von Schmidt sought inspiration and authentic western imagery during his Colorado visits, where he was hosted in Trinidad, CO by authentic cowboy and fellow artist/illustrator, A.R. Mitchell. In 1968, Von Schmidt was awarded the first gold medal by the trustees of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame which honors those who have made great contributions to the storytelling of the American West.The Duel (from The Lost Wagon Train. by Zane Grey), a 24.5” x 50.5” oil painting was created as a part of a series of paintings to illustrate Zane Grey’s “The Lost Wagon Train”. The story follows Stephen Latch, a Civil War soldier whose post-war path takes him from ruthless outlaw to a new life. Similarly, he also illustrated Willa Cather’s famous novel about the Southwest, “Death Comes for the Archbishop”.In the watercolor painting, A Christmas Carriage Ride, Von Schmidt combined over a half dozen vignettes into one narrative to show the festive activities of visiting during the Christmas season. Having grown up with horses, Von Schmidt’s are effortlessly drawn and exemplify a complete familiarity with their forms. He is in full control of the color and values of the scene. The viewer is given insight into his artistic process with the remaining pencil sketch on the lower right side of this obviously New England and distinctly American scene. Subtle details are found in the clothing, the accouterments of the carriage, specific articles of daily life, the water well, and the architecture of the period. Large watercolors like this are rare, especially from this period. While we do not have proof, this piece appears to have been created in the 1940s.