This is an original silver gelatin large-format photograph by M. Kraig featuring Charlie Russell at the home of Charles O. Middleton, posing for the photograph with Edward Borein, Frank Tenney Johnson, Jack Wilkinson Smith, William L. Otte, Alexis Podchernikoff, and, Max Wieczorek; Provenance: From the ex-Charles O. Middleton estate, from the ex-Charles M. Russell estate, from the ex-Jack Cooper Russell estate, and ex-museum Eastern Montana collection. Charles Middleton was a wealthy patron of the arts in Beverly Hills California and invited the seven notable artists to his housewarming. The seven artists were known for their focus on the American West. This is truly a photograph that captures the Artists of the American West. Charlie Marion Russell (1864-1926), known as the "cowboy artist" lived and worked in Montana. Russell and Borein were good friends, and Russell worked with cowboy artist Johnson on a sketching expedition to the Blackfoot Indian Reservation east of Glacier National Park in Montana. Middleton was a personal friend of Russell's and was instrumental in introducing Russell's work to many patrons of the arts throughout the United States. Correspondence between Middleton and Nancy Russell, Charlie's wife, regarding his paintings are in the Gilcrease Museum Charles M. Russell Research Collection. John Edward Borein (1873-1945) was a notable etcher, painter and illustrator of the Old West including depictions of the American Frontier, Native Americans, Spanish Colonial California and Mexico. Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939) was a painted of the Old American West, he popularized a style of painting cowboys which became known as “The Johnson Moonlight Technique”. Jack Wilkinson Smith (1873-1949), also known as Jack Wilkinson Smith, was also a notable American painter, during the Spanish American War 1898 his front-line sketches brought him national renown. He settled in Alhambra, California with a home studio in the eucalyptus grove called, “Artists Alley” where his neighbors included Eli Harvey, Frank Tenney Johnson and Norman Rockwell. William Louis Otte (1871-1957) studied at New York School of Art under painter Robert Henri (1865-1929). He became one of California’s more notable landscape painters. Alexis Matthew Podchernikoff (1886-1933) was born in Vladimir Russia studying under his grandfather Dmitri Zolotarieff and later with Ilya Repin and Verestchagin. He was awarded a gold medal for his work My Beloved Russian Woods purchased by the Royal Art Commission. He immigrated to the U.S. ending up in California where he become noted for his Santa Barbara paintings. Max Wieczorek (1863-1965) was born in Breslau, Germany and studied in Germany and Italy with Ferdinand Keller and Max Thedy. He immigrated to American in 1893 where he married a stained glass designer for Louis C. Tiffany until 1908 when he settled in Los Angeles, where he also became known for his California scenes. Provenance: The photograph is from the ex-collection of Charles O. Middleton estate, from the ex-Charles M. Russell and Nancy Russell estate, ex-Jack Cooper Russell estate and ex-museum collection out of Eastern Montana. This photo is featured in Harold Davidson's book, "Edward Borein, Cowboy Artist". Photograph is signed by the photographer, "M. Kraig" at the lower right corner. The photograph is in amazingly well-preserved condition, age tanning consistent with age and use. Matted gilt wood frame is in good overall condition, slight scuffing noted. Visible art measures 10"W x 13"L, frame is 16.5"W x 20"L x 1.25"D. Combined weight is 3lb.