Featured in this lot is the Charles M. Russell "The Marriage Ceremony, Indian Love Call", 1894, colour stone lithograph, copyright the TDM Company (Thos. D. Murphy Calendar Company), Red Oak, Iowa. Russell's signature and noted bison skull hallmark can be seen at the bottom right along with the date '94. American Indian courtship especially intrigued Russell in the 1890s. It was common practice for an unmarried man to take his horse to water, then loiter by the stream to admire, and be admired by, a young woman who had caught his fancy. Russell’s bold suitor has obviously decided to take the direct approach and has found an American Indian maiden who is, for once, without her chaperone. He surprises her with his attempt at courtship—but perhaps the young man’s attentions will actually be welcome." Thomas D. Murphy was the first person who successfully developed advertising art calendars, and is the individual who is most responsible for the creation, development and expansion of the art calendar industry. Murphy took pride in using works by outstanding artists on his calendars. He commissioned many paintings, and acquired reproduction rights to others. Calendars were produced to high technical specifications, and the company took pride in its artists and its collection of original works. This painting was utilized on Murphy's 1944 calendar. Charlie Russell (1864-1926) was the "other" artist (besides Frederic Remington) who chronicled life in the Wild West. Unlike Remington, Russell settled permanently in the west (Montana) and wholeheartedly embraced everything life there had to offer. He was a "real" cowboy, lived with a mountain man and was an adopted brother of the Blackfoot tribe. His oils, watercolors and bronzes reflect an intimate knowledge of his subjects, and no one was more surprised than he when they began fetching high prices. This metal trimmed wood framed colour stone lithograph is in good overall condition, creases noted around right & left top border, no other obvious marring noted. Frame is in good overall condition, slight scuffing exhibited along frame edges, no other obvious marring noted. Visible art measures 10.25"W x 13.25"L, frame is 12"W x 15"L x 1.25"D