Jerry Crandall, the artist known for his love of the past and paintings of trappers, mountain men and Native Americans, died June 12 from Covid-19. He was 87 years old.
“Jerry Crandall’s special love of history, fascination for artifacts and an honest dedication to research, bring reality into each of his paintings. His creations sparkle with bright, clear realism, are painstakingly rendered, possess underlying technical accuracy and strive for historical authenticity,” his wife Judy Crandall wrote in his obituary. “His art celebrates the uncommon union between historical authenticity and fine art.”
Jerry Crandall, center, shows some of his work at Costanza Gallery in Hamilton, Montana.
Born in La Junta, Colorado, not far from the Santa Fe Trail, Crandall long held an interest in history, including the Old West, the earlier trapper period and also World War II history, especially the German Luftwaffe, of which he has authored 20 books on the subject and was considered an authority. He also painted aviation art. His expertise on the American West has landed him as a historical consultant on TV and film projects, including Charlton Heston’s 1980 film The Mountain Men. He also was in the hit film Tombstone as one of the cowboys. His art career stretches back 60 years, and his prints have been in circulation since 1977.
Jerry and Judy Crandall at an art show in Beverly Hills, California, in 1974.
“Jerry was a great student and expert on the North American fur trade period. His paintings tell it all. He was the best, along with John Clymer,” says Fred Fellows, a friend of the artist. “I was an art director at Northrop Aircraft in Hawthorne, California, during the 1960s and an artist by the name of Jack Lynwood worked for us. Jack is considered the all-time best aircraft painter, having painted the old Revell model boxes.
I consider Jerry Crandall his equal and one of the best historical aircraft painters. Jerry was a Renaissance man.” —
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