Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
He stands with a quiet pride, the rider’s profile turned toward a distant horizon while his horse, also dressed for ceremony, seems alert and ready. The painting’s warm sunlit palette — ochres, soft browns and pale sky blue — gives the scene a late‑afternoon glow that feels both intimate and timeless. Look closely at the decorated horse mask, the painted handprint on the flank and the feathered headdress: these details speak to ritual protection and the ceremonial language of power rather than simple decoration. The artist’s careful handling of light on leather, beadwork and fringe creates a tactile presence; you can almost feel the textures beneath your fingertips. Together the pair suggest continuity — a living cultural practice rooted in memory and movement — and invite a respectful pause to consider the role of ceremony, identity and partnership between rider and horse.
The Artwork
About Today we will look our best And you will take me where I want to go Tomorrow they will te
Today we will look our best, ...And you will take me where I want to go<br>... Tomorrow they will te
When Spanish explorers came to the land that would become America, they brought horses with them clad in armored masks. Native Americans soon adapted the mask for their own horses, influenced by visions and decorated motifs of hail, thunder and lightning. The armor adorned with these symbols of power could transform the horse and rider into great warriors with extraordinary abilities and possibly even carry them into the space between this world and the next, where bullets and arrows could not hurt them.
To this day, Plains Indians decorate their horses for ceremony and adorn them with images of power. Bob Coronato was inspired to paint this piece while watching relay races at Crow Fair. He realized, he says, how much the horse culture is very much the same today as it was in the past.
To this day, Plains Indians decorate their horses for ceremony and adorn them with images of power. Bob Coronato was inspired to paint this piece while watching relay races at Crow Fair. He realized, he says, how much the horse culture is very much the same today as it was in the past.
Collector Details
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About the Collection
Bob Coronato is a celebrated Western artist known for his detailed etchings and paintings that capture the spirit of the American frontier. His work brings to life cowboys, rodeo culture, and Native American traditions, preserving the essence of the Old West through historical accuracy and artistic realism. Using traditional etching techniques and contemporary Western realism, Coronato creates richly detailed frontier paintings that reflect the grit, beauty, and untamed nature of the American West. His Western art is highly sought after by collectors who appreciate historical storytelling through fine art.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Bob Coronato.
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Authenticity & Documentation
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BIOGRAPHY
"We are at a clash of two different times: the traditional cowboy'n' ways are
being overridden by the modern, quicker technologies. This is the focus of my
paintings," Coronato says. "I try to document moments in time that show the
ways of a fading lifestyle that so many people have admired." The subjects of
Coronato's work remind people that there is still a remote, free West. The
question the artist is asked most often is, "Do they really do that?" Coronato
reflects, "Yes, they do - but not for much longer. The West is alive, it s
just hiding in small corners of our country, trying to desperately hang on and
not be forgotten."
Coronato lives half the year in remote, eastern Wyoming and half the year in
southern California. Upon graduating from Otis/Parsons Art School, he moved to
Wyoming to pursue a career as a cowboy artist. His work has been shown at the
High Plains Museum, the Coeur D'Alene Art Auction and in 1995 won Best of Show
as the Pendleton Round Up Art Show. "
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