A personal friend of Charles Russell from his days of being a cowboy in Montana, Charles Beil established a studio in Great Falls where Russell frequently visited. Russell referred to Beil as the “best feller I ever seen modeling hosses an’ cowpunchers.” At Russell’s funeral, Beil led the procession with Russell’s empty-saddled horse. In 1930, Beil settled in Banff, Canada. His sculpture is owned by English royalty and other collectors world wide. During his lifetiime, Beil always resisted casting series of any one piece, preferring to sell one-of-a-kind castings. However, late in life he did begin to cast in series. After Beil’s death in 1976, several unauthorized castings turned up at auctions but were spotted and returned by the buyers. Beil’s widow decided to continue casting until each series planned by the sculptor was fulfilled. Since her death in 1983, no casting has been done, but plans are now being made for the three children to resume fulfillment of the original series. Legal posthumous Beil bronzes will be accompanied by certificates of authenticity.
