Wá-nah-de-túnk-ah, Big Eagle (or Black Dog), Chief of the O‑hah-kas-ka-toh-y-an-te Band

George Catlin, Wá-nah-de-túnk-ah, Big Eagle (or Black Dog), Chief of the O-hah-kas-ka-toh-y-an-te Band, 1835, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.70
George Catlin, Wá-nah-de-túnk-ah, Big Eagle (or Black Dog), Chief of the O-hah-kas-ka-toh-y-an-te Band, 1835, oil on canvas, 2924 in. (73.760.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.70
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Wá-nah-de-túnk-ah, Big Eagle (or Black Dog), Chief of the O‑hah-kas-ka-toh-y-an-te Band
Date
1835
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2924 in. (73.760.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — Black Dog
  • Portrait male — Big Eagle
  • Indian — Sioux
  • Indian — Dakota
Object Number
1985.66.70

Artwork Description

“I am now in the heart of the country belonging to the numerous tribe of Sioux or Dahcotas, and have Indian faces and Indian customs in abundance around me. This tribe is one of the most numerous in North America, and also one of the most vigorous and warlike tribes to be found, numbering some forty or fifty thousand, and able undoubtedly to muster, if the tribe could be moved simultaneously, at least eight or ten thousand warriors, well mounted and well armed. This tribe take vast numbers of the wild horses on the plains towards the Rocky Mountains, and many of them have been supplied with guns; but the greater part of them hunt with their bows and arrows and long lances, killing their game from their horses' backs while at full speed.” (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 1, no. 26, 1841; reprint 1973)

Works by this artist (731 items)

Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Juan Gris drawing), late 1960s, collage on masonite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 2002.58.20
Untitled (Juan Gris drawing)
Datelate 1960s
collage on masonite
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Rorschach drawing), n.d., drawing, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.408
Untitled (Rorschach drawing)
Daten.d.
drawing
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (white cockatoo and other birds), 1969-1971, collage, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.297
Untitled (white cockatoo and other birds)
Date1969-1971
collage
Not on view

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