In Without Knocking

As in all his depictions of cowboy life, Russell included a wealth of fascinating detail. The cowboys’ dress and saddle outfits are all different, reflecting a wide range of influences. The rider second from the left wears a Montana short-brim peak hat, and his pants are typically cuffed since they were sold as “one size fits all.” His finely tooled saddle seems to have a cantle covered in rattlesnake skin—a talisman originating in Texas and Mexico to ward off saddle sores. The horses are wonderfully rendered, particularly the one that has just put its foreleg through the wooden porch.