Buffalo Chase, a Single Death

George Catlin, Buffalo Chase, a Single Death, 1832-1833, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.408
George Catlin, Buffalo Chase, a Single Death, 1832-1833, oil on canvas, 2429 in. (60.973.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.408
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Buffalo Chase, a Single Death
Date
1832-1833
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2429 in. (60.973.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — buffalo
  • Figure male
  • Western
  • Occupation — hunter
  • Animal — horse
  • Indian
Object Number
1985.66.408

Artwork Description

“In the chase of the buffalo, or other animal, the Indian generally ‘strips’ himself and his horse, by throwing off his shield and quiver, and every part of his dress, which might be an encumbrance to him in running; grasping his bow in his left hand, with five or six arrows drawn from his quiver, and ready for instant use . . . These horses are so trained, that the Indian has little use for the rein, which hangs on the neck, whilst the horse approaches the animal on the right side, giving his rider the chance to throw his arrow to the left; which he does at the instant when the horse is passing---bringing him opposite to the heart, which receives the deadly weapon ‘to the feather’ . . . I have fairly represented the mode of approaching, at the instant the arrow is to be thrown; and the striking disparity between the size of a huge bull of 2000 pounds weight, and the Indian horse, which, it will be borne in mind, is but a pony.” George Catlin made this sketch on the Upper Missouri in 1832. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 1, no. 31, 1841; reprint 1973)

Works by this artist (22 items)

Robert S. Duncanson, Mountain Pool, 1870, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Richard Frates, 1983.95.173
Mountain Pool
Date1870
oil on canvas
On view
Robert S. Duncanson, On the St. Annes, East Canada, 1863, 1865, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Drown, 1983.95.170
On the St. Annes, East Canada
Date1863, 1865
oil on canvas
On view
Robert S. Duncanson, Waterfall on Mont-Morency, 1864, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Norbert Fleisig, 1983.95.161
Waterfall on Mont-Morency
Date1864
oil on canvas
On view
Robert S. Duncanson, Loch Long, 1867, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Donald J. Shein, 1983.95.171
Loch Long
Date1867
oil on canvas
On view

Exhibitions

Media - 1985.66.404 - SAAM-1985.66.404_1 - 9039
Picturing the American Buffalo: George Catlin and Modern Native American Artists
October 11, 2019March 13, 2020
Picturing the American Buffalo: George Catlin and Modern Native American Artists examines representations of buffalo and their integration into the lives of Native Americans on the Great Plains in the 1830s and in the twentieth century.

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Dateca. 1890-1900
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Unidentified (Italian), Saint, 19th century, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney, 1952.13.157
Saint
Artist
Unidentified (Italian)
Date19th century
oil on canvas
Not on view