The work of William Tylee Ranney, known as the "Wild West painter," is famous for its depictions of American life, sporting scenery, historical subjects, and portraits. In addition to landscapes, he specialized in portraits. In fact, he is known for painting several subjects that are very important to America.
Ranney was born in Middletown, Conn., where he had his first apprenticeship. Later, at age 13, he moved to Fayetteville, N.C., where he trained to become a tinsmith. The experiences he gained there influenced his art and helped him achieve great success. His earliest works were figurative and often depict animals. The artist's output of genre subjects was most prolific in the mid-1850s. While his popularity peaked in the 1850s, his illness led to his death in 1842. His paintings and etchings continued to be highly popular for several decades.
Ranney met his wife Margaret Agnes O'Sullivan in New York and they had two sons. In 1848, he moved to Weehawken, New Jersey. Three years later, he settled in West Hoboken, where he created some of his most important works. His death occurred in Hoboken on November 18, 1857 of tuberculosis. The family has a long history with the Ranneys.
