Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock

George Catlin, Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock, 1837-1839, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.472
George Catlin, Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock, 1837-1839, oil on canvas, 19 5⁄8 x 27 1⁄2 in. (49.7 x 70.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.472
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Artwork Details

Title
Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock
Artist
Date
1837-1839
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
19 5⁄8 x 27 1⁄2 in. (49.7 x 70.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Recreation — sport and play — archery
  • Indian — Comanche
  • Animal — horse
  • Western
  • Figure group — male
Object Number
1985.66.472
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.66.472

Artwork Description

“A curious superstition of the Camanchees: going to war, they have no faith in their success, unless they pass a celebrated painted rock, where they appease the spirit of war (who resides there), by riding by it at full gallop, and sacrificing their best arrow by throwing it against the side of the ledge.” (Catlin, 1848 Catalogue, Catlin’s Indian Gallery, SAAM online exhibition)

Works by this artist (54 items)

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Kenyon Cox, After Boltraffio, "Sacra Conversazione", 1878-1882, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing, 1983.114.16
After Boltraffio, ​“Sacra Conversazione”
Artist
Date1878-1882
oil on canvas
On view
Kenyon Cox, Study for Drapery of "Pursuit of the Ideal", 1891, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing, 1983.114.19
Study for Drapery of ​“Pursuit of the Ideal”
Artist
Date1891
oil on canvas
On view
Kenyon Cox, Sketch for the Mural at Oberlin College, "The Spirit of Self-Sacrificing Love", ca. 1914, oil and pencil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing, 1983.114.15
Sketch for the Mural at Oberlin College, ​“The Spirit of…
Artist
Dateca. 1914
oil and pencil on canvas
On view
Kenyon Cox, The Silver Hand Glass, 1907, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Joan Armstrong Schmidt, 1992.4
The Silver Hand Glass
Artist
Date1907
oil on canvas
On view