Longhorn Paintings

Longhorn paintings are as Americana as any piece of Western art. Many people own longhorn paintings as well as the many that are displayed on prominent walls in museums, government buildings, and businesses.

Artists have enjoyed creating these animals on canvas for years. They are a very large animal that carry their own mystique. To many people, they are like a walking piece of American history.

These creatures were introduced to the Americas over 500 years ago. Some made their way to Mexico, while a few hundred were driven up to what is now called Texas. These became what are now called Texas Longhorns.

A true distinguishing factor is their horns. The Texas breed if you will, have horns that grow curved, but away from their face, while the other breeds have horns that are curved toward their face.

These animals were a part of the old West and remain a symbol of it today. This is just one of the reasons for the popularity of longhorn paintings. They had to survive harsh cold winters, summers of drought, vicious sand storms as well as predatory animals and humans.

It is their survival that gives them their mystery. Another piece that adds to that is how this animal was able to adapt and thrive during times that other animals could not. These are a few more reasons as to why there are so many longhorn paintings.

Most people think of the Texas longhorns when they think of these animals. They can get quite large with horns that can extend well beyond seven feet from tip to tip. They have beautiful coloring of blues, yellows, browns, reds, white and black, and some are speckled.

They are known for their gentle disposition, ease of raising and intelligence. They are raised as beef cattle and are considered a leaner beef than other cattle. For these reasons, it is no wonder that they have become so popular among ranchers.

Their coloring and demeanor is a reason for the art. Their mass in size with the intimidating size of their horns would make anyone want to keep a distance.

These animals are very majestic creatures and are more like gentle giants than raging bulls. Although, if one gets spooked, watch out! Many artists have taken brush to canvas in an attempt to capture the essence of these animals. Their strength and survival is a thing of beauty.

Longhorn paintings have grown in popularity as so many other pieces of American Western art have in recent years. Some are more like portraits taken of the cattle. A singular cow in the meadow or along a calm stream is a favorite to depict among artists.

Others depict the cattle drive that these animals were often a part of. They often traveled down long dusty trails, through raging rivers, up rolling hills, and even through torrential snow storms along the plains.

These herds painted the landscape of much of the Southwest. These facts make it no surprise that these pieces have been popular with Western art collectors for some time. Some artists paint them in abstract ways, others paint them in their natural scenery with almost life like appearance.

Betz Gallery is an expert in longhorn paintings , art print and reproductions.