Hidden Ridge Gallery - Latest Product Updates from Frank McCarthy

The Coup

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:17:20 +0100

Coup, the act of touching and not killing an opponent in battle, was regarded as the highest act of bravery and skill in the face of the enemy. It brought prestige and honor to the Plains warrior that accomplished it. And no artist comes close to counting coup on Frank McCarthy when it comes to capturing the dynamic power and drama of the Old West.

Size:	23"w x 17"h		Edition:	75
InformArt:	Not Listed		Status:	Available at publisher

Price: $445.00

Pony Express

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:07:48 +0100

The desert is broken up by all kinds of arroyos and the "Pony Express" rider is being chased by the Indians. The man is rising up and jumping over; with the Indians staying off to the side - not threatening him but yet close enough.

It was really a horse race. The Indians really weren't very hostile in most cases. They always enjoyed the race. It was a matter of pride if they could beat the Express man. The Express riders had many stops so they were able to outrun the Indians. The service had way stations all over, where the riders could change horses, so they were able to run faster for shorter periods of time.

The Express only lasted about a year. The telegraph was being put up as the Pony Express was being run. The Pony Express riders used to run right next to the telegraph lines. But when the telegraph went through, the Pony Express went out completely. It was a very short but very picturesque time.

Price: $0.00

Robe Signal

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:26:17 +0100

Frank McCarthy could paint a bouquet of flowers and it would feel like you were watching the Daytona 500. Even this simple image of a solitary Cheyenne warrior scout captures all the drama of the epic west with only a single figure!

A buffalo hide served many purposes for the Plains Indian. It was a wrap by night. It went wherever its owner went, serving variously for warmth, protection . . . and for communication. A lone Cheyenne sends a message, a simple robe signal, to be understood as clearly and effectively by its receiver as our instant communications of today.

Price: $0.00

From The Rim

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:27:01 +0100

Frank McCarthy's "From the Rim" is set against a giant shelf of rimrock and under threatening skies. A Sioux warrior rides out beyond his waiting and impatient war party. Shading his eyes and scanning the horizon, he is looking perhaps for a mirror flash or a scout's signal with blanket or robe to indicate in which direction the warriors should ride. It was the habit of the Sioux, when no enemy came to them within a respectable interval, to ride forth and seek out a worthy adversary. The Sioux often chose the Pawnee on whom to bestow these periodic blessings, giving their young men a chance to satisfy their need to display their valor in battle.

McCarthy's work was always imbued with a high sense of drama. Each painting nearly leaps off the canvas. He builds this sense of tension in every painting, even when the horses and figures are still. "From the Rim" is a perfect example of this McCarthy trademark style. Here, the action is provided in the dramatic and foreboding design of the landscape surrounding this seemingly motionless Sioux scout.

Price: $0.00