Olaf Wieghorst
Encyclopedia
Olaf Wieghorst was a painter of the American West in the vein of Frederic Remington
and Charles Russell
.
Wieghorst emigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1918 and lived the rest of his life there.
He spent his working career on mounted patrol with the U.S. Cavalry, was part of a campaign that chased Pancho Villa
back across the border and the New York City Police Department Mounted Division, with occasional interludes as a wrangler on ranches in the western states. Wherever he went, he sketched and painted the Western culture he loved, often selling his work as calendar and magazine illustrations (such as Zane Grey
's Western Magazine and Hoofs and Horns, an honor he shared with other cowboy artists such as Dan Muller
).
Wieghorst eventually settled in San Diego County, California and spent the rest of his life there working on his art. Many of his works can be found on display at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon, California
(a San Diego suburb).
movies in the 60's, McLintock!
and El Dorado. Some of his art work was used in the open titles sequence in the film El Dorado.
Frederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
and Charles Russell
Charles Marion Russell
Charles Marion Russell , also known as C. M. Russell, Charlie Russell, and "Kid" Russell, was an artist of the Old American West. Russell created more than 2,000 paintings of cowboys, Indians, and landscapes set in the Western United States, in addition to bronze sculptures...
.
Wieghorst emigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1918 and lived the rest of his life there.
He spent his working career on mounted patrol with the U.S. Cavalry, was part of a campaign that chased Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
back across the border and the New York City Police Department Mounted Division, with occasional interludes as a wrangler on ranches in the western states. Wherever he went, he sketched and painted the Western culture he loved, often selling his work as calendar and magazine illustrations (such as Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
's Western Magazine and Hoofs and Horns, an honor he shared with other cowboy artists such as Dan Muller
Dan Muller
Dan Muller aka Daniel Cody Muller , artist, illustrator and writer of the American West; Muller was born in Choteau, Montana, October 11, 1889 to Carl and Augusta Muller....
).
Wieghorst eventually settled in San Diego County, California and spent the rest of his life there working on his art. Many of his works can be found on display at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
(a San Diego suburb).
Early years
Wieghorst was a stunt rider (horse) for a Danish circus before migrating to the United States at the age of 19.Later years
He appeared in two John WayneJohn Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
movies in the 60's, McLintock!
McLintock!
McLintock! is a 1963 comedy Western starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and loosely based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The film is notable, perhaps even infamous, for its two spanking scenes, in which mother and daughter are each paddled with coal shovels: the daughter by her...
and El Dorado. Some of his art work was used in the open titles sequence in the film El Dorado.