I learned yesterday while exploring the wonderful holdings of my university's Fine Arts Library of the existence of an artist named Elling William Gollings, who lived from 1878 to 1932. Gollings, who went by 'Bill', was born in Pierce City, in Idaho Territory, and went on to become an authentic cowboy, while nurturing a budding artistic talent. Receiving some instruction from a certain Hans Kleiber, Gollings eventually settled in Sheridan, Wyoming, opening a studio there in 1909, moving away for the most part from the cowboy's life and establishing himself as a professional artist. Among his achievements were decorations he provided for the State Capitol in Cheyenne. He died in Sheridan (the home of the immortal Mint Bar, and reputedly the single most significant site of architectural heritage in the State of Wyoming) in 1932. Gollings is widely regarded as the most important artist resident in Wyoming in the early twentieth century.
I found a couple of web-pages devoted to this artist:
http://www.umt.edu/montanamuseum/paint/golbio.htmhttp://www.kodnergallery.com/docs/Featured/gollings.htm
