Astley David Montague Cooper Paintings

Astley David Montague Cooper, more commonly known as A.D.M. Cooper, was an American artist born on December 23, 1856, in St. Louis, Missouri. Cooper is best known for his works depicting the American West, including Native Americans, cowboys, and landscapes, as well as for his portraits and allegorical scenes.

Educated initially in his hometown, Cooper's artistic journey began early in his life. He moved to Paris to train as a painter, where he was influenced by the academic styles of the era, particularly by the French academic and salon painting traditions. After returning to the United States, he settled in California, which became the primary subject of much of his artistic work.

Cooper's paintings often romanticized the American West, and he became a significant figure in the genre of Western art. His works captured the spirit and drama of the frontier, a theme that was highly popular during his time. Cooper also created a number of large-scale historical and allegorical paintings, some of which were commissioned as public works.

In addition to his painting, Cooper was known for his flamboyant personality and unconventional lifestyle. He had a love for high living and was known to barter paintings for services and goods, including medical care and bar tabs. Cooper's legacy as a painter is mixed; while he was popular in his day and his works were sought after, his reputation has fluctuated over time. Today, his paintings can be found in various museum collections and are studied for their portrayal of the mythos of the American West.

Astley David Montague Cooper passed away on March 13, 1924, in Santa Clara County, California. Despite the ebb and flow of his posthumous reputation, his work remains an important part of the narrative of American art history, particularly within the genre of Western art.