Frederic Sackrider Remington (American, 1861-1909), "Key West, Florida", 1898, pen and ink on paper, signed and inscribed "Key West" lower left, 14 1/2 in. x 19 1/2 in., framed . Provenance: Private Collection, New York; Dr. Sheldon Tucker, Houston, TX; Mr. Harry A. Lockwood, Cincinnati, OH; Kennedy Galleries, Inc., New York, NY, Dec. 12, 1973. Ill.: Allen, Douglas. Frederic Remington and the Spanish-American Wa. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971, p. 54. Note: From a young age, Frederic Remington enjoyed sketching soldiers and cowboys, as well as maintaining an avid interest in journalism. Studying at Yale Art School and the Art Students League of New York, Remington also worked for his uncle's newspaper before moving to the West, where he attempted ranching, owning a hardware store, and operating a saloon. Although these occupations were not his ultimate career, the experiences he gained in the West and the sketches he made allowed him to capitalize on America's interest in western life and create illustrations, drawings, and paintings based on his observations.
Working for newspapers and magazines, Remington became a correspondent, producing sketches and drawings, as well as taking photographs. He gained great commercial success and also began creating bronze sculptures. In 1898, William Randolph Hearst commissioned Remington to cover the Spanish-American War as a war correspondent. This conflict was the result of Cuba attempting to liberate their island from Spanish control. America joined the fight and ultimately defeated Spain, gaining sovereignty over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The drawing presented here depicts the soldier encampment of the 25th U.S. Infantry in Key West, Florida, during preparations for the fighting in Cuba. With his careful pen and ink cross-hatching technique, Remington gracefully captured the everyday work of making the camp ready for the upcoming battle.
Ref.: Allen, Douglas. Frederic Remington and the Spanish-American War. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971.