The Posse

The present painting was part of an illustration commission for Eugene Manlove Rhodes' novel The Trusty Knaves, a Western story revolving around a plot to rob a bank. As described on the binding, "...the good guys in this bit of tightly plotted spoofery are the lawless, who overcome the bad guys representing the establishment, enrolling sheriff, marshal, lawyer, rancher, and businessman, with assorted stooges. These upholders of law and order conspire to rob a bank, and are thwarted by the trusty knaves, led by Bill Doolan, who also had it in mind to rob the bank." Koerner's illustration captures the moment when, "The posse rode north together, a goodly cavalcade, planning inquiry as to any glimpse of the fugitive at the Carmody herd before they separated to comb the country."