Pony Express Rider Original Artwork

56.75 X 13.25 Oil
The Pony Express only operated from April 3, 1860 to October 26, 1861. During May of 1860 the Paiute Uprising in Nevada would become the biggest Native American threat the company experienced. Sixteen employees lost their lives during this period. The Paiutes killed or stole about 150 horses. Along with the loss of life, the uprising cost the Pony Express enterprise nearly $75,000.00 at the time. For its short life, the impact and legend of the Pony Express on the region, much less the rest of the country, is another example of the country’s romance with the West. This work is an excellent sample of Minerva’s refined but uniquely authentic approach to her craft. Different levels of finish on the characters and elements throughout reflect her philosophy of “when the story is told, the painting is done.”