Ponderosa 1

Dan Blocker, a “gentle giant” and a “mountain of a man” played Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on TV’s “Bonanza” from 1959 until his untimely death in 1972.  The series would run until 1973 but without Hoss, it wasn’t the same.

Hoss was one of three Cartwright boys, sons of patriarch Ben Cartwright, owner of the Ponderosa ranch in Nevada. And ponderous it was. Take a look at how much land it encompassed on the map in the opening credit sequence for the show. Looks like darned near the whole state!

Blocker’s Hoss was a beloved character who knew he was gifted with immense strength and only rarely used it when forced. The series was one in a long line of Westerns that dominated the small screen from the 50s into the 70s when such shows fell out of favor. Regardless, everyone knew and grew fond of the Cartwright clan and Blocker had a gift for both action and comic moments.

The painting measures 16 inches by 20 inches and is painted in oil. This one-of-a-kind, hand painted rendition of Hoss will ship UNFRAMED. This portrait of Doan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright includes his beloved, trusty horse. They’re taking a break from the rigors of ranch work and have stopped by a section of the Ponderosa’s fence. True “Bonanza” fans will love hanging Hoss in their bunkhouse.

Be sure to check out the other “Bonanza” paintings on this site!