There Was a Time - Bison herd and wolves landscape by Simon Combes

There Was a Time by Simon Combes.

 

Simon Combes brings the Old West of 200 years ago back to life as a massive herd of buffalo - along with wolves, buzzards, a coyote, a red-tailed hawk, geese and a pair of hidden magpies - migrates to warmer climes. He was commissioned by a collector to do this painting; it is one way he hopes these huge herds can be remembered forever. In the beginning of the 1800's the buffalo population was estimated at about 60 million - within 70 years excessive hunting reduced it to 200.

 

Stephen Ambrose's book "Undaunted Courage" was a primary inspiration for Combes. This book includes the diaries of Meriwether Clark  of the Lewis and Clark expedition, with eyewitness accounts of these awe-inspiring migrations.... After much time and work on this grand painting Combes says: "This experience has been daunting, terrifying, exciting, fascinating, arduous, stressful, enthralling, humbling and finally - spiritual."

 

Canvas released June 1998.

Each canvas has individually hand-painted brushstrokes of color by the artist added.