Artwork
The Transgressor
The Transgressor is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Frederic Remington. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
About this work
Overview
Frederic Remington’s 1896 oil painting titled The Transgressor is part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The work presents a dramatic scene in which a solitary figure hangs upside down from a sheer rock face, while distant riders and a foot traveler approach the cliff’s base.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, stripped to a simple loincloth, is suspended in a precarious pose that suggests danger or punishment. The presence of the approaching horsemen and pedestrian creates a narrative tension, inviting speculation about the man’s fate and the broader themes of risk, isolation, and confrontation with the untamed landscape.
Technique & Style
Remington employs strong chiaroscuro, allowing the cliff’s shadowed surface to contrast sharply with the illuminated body, thereby emphasizing depth and volume. The composition is anchored by the massive rock formation, while the limited palette and precise brushwork convey both the rugged terrain and the immediacy of the scene.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1896, The Transgressor entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s holdings through acquisition (specific details of the purchase are recorded in the museum’s acquisition ledger). Since its arrival, the painting has been displayed as an example of Remington’s late‑career exploration of dramatic, narrative subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art.
