Philip Russell Goodwin was born in Norwich, Connecticutt in 1882 and died in Mamaroneck, New York in 1935. Goodwin was an eastern illustrator of the outdoors. Philip R. Goodwin was a student of the Rhode Island School of Design, the Howard Pyle School, and the Art Students League of New York, New York. His specialty was the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing. He is also listed among the artists who successfully depicted the ranch life of the cowboy. Persimmon Hill magazine has reproduced on its cover Goodwin's 1910 "When Things Are Quiet," noting that Goodwin's cowboy paintings were influenced by Charles Russell. Goodwin was one of the few New Yorkers that Russell liked. He visited Russell at the Lazy KY Ranch and at the Bull Head Lodge. During the Depression, Goodwin's savings bank failed, causing serious financial distress. The only important work he had was gun ads and calendar art. His friends felt his worries caused his early death. A few months after his death, Goodwin was rediscovered as an artist. In his estate, however, there were only a few landscapes and the small "comp" sketches prepared for commissions sought, his illustrations having been to order and held by the customers.

Commentary:

The above painting has an interesting story to say the least. This painting was in a garage sale in LaCrosse, Wisconsin with a price of $5.00 on it. A man came by and offered the lady having the garage sale $3.00 for it. She did not accept the offer and decided to investigate her garage sale item. She sent photographs of it to a major western and sporting auction. The work was authenticated as an original oil painting by Goodwin. The painting sold at auction in 2001 for the amount of $ 33,000.00 which included the buyers premium. This is a good lesson for those individuals that insist on bartering before every purchase. GLT