Stán-au-pat, Bloody Hand, Chief of the Tribe

George Catlin, Stán-au-pat, Bloody Hand, Chief of the Tribe, 1832, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.123
George Catlin, Stán-au-pat, Bloody Hand, Chief of the Tribe, 1832, oil on canvas, 29 x 24 in. (73.7 x 60.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.123
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Stán-au-pat, Bloody Hand, Chief of the Tribe
Artist
Date
1832
Location
Dimensions
29 x 24 in. (73.7 x 60.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Dress — Indian dress
  • Indian — Arikara
  • Object — weapon — dagger
  • Portrait male — Bloody Hand — bust
Object Number
1985.66.123
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.66.123

Artwork Description

George Catlin described Bloody Hand, chief of the Arikara tribe, as having “his face painted with red vermilion, scalping-knife in his hand,” and “wearing a beautiful dress.” Catlin was fortunate to meet Bloody Hand and his daughter when they were visiting the smaller of two Mandan towns. Since 1823, when traders from the American Fur Company allied with the Sioux to attack and destroy their village, the Arikara had harbored “hostile and deadly” feelings toward all whites. Catlin painted Stán-au-pat at an Arikara village in 1832. (Catlin, 1848 Catalogue, Catlin’s Indian Gallery, SAAM online exhibition)

Works by this artist (4 items)

James Reid Lambdin, Samuel Hopkins Lambdin, 1850, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1978.162.3
Samuel Hopkins Lambdin
Artist
Date1850
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
James Reid Lambdin, Mrs. James Reid Lambdin (Mary O'Hara Cochran), ca. 1850, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1978.162.2
Mrs. James Reid Lambdin (Mary O’Hara Cochran)
Artist
Dateca. 1850
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
James Reid Lambdin, George Cochran Lambdin, ca. 1845, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1978.162.1
George Cochran Lambdin
Artist
Dateca. 1845
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
James Reid Lambdin, John Sartain, William Henry Harrison, 1808-1897, mezzotint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation, 1966.48.25
William Henry Harrison
Artist
Date1808-1897
mezzotint
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Unidentified (Puerto Rican), Da. Barbara Vizcarrondo de Elzaburu, 19th century, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.20
Da. Barbara Vizcarrondo de Elzaburu
Artist
Unidentified (Puerto Rican)
Date19th century
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
Image Not Available
Portrait of a Lady
Artist
Date1877
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
George Catlin, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1830, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Bernard N. Burnstine, 1946.1.1
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Dateca. 1830
watercolor on ivory
Not on view
George Catlin, William Wilson, ca. 1826, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1980.126.1
William Wilson
Artist
Dateca. 1826
watercolor on ivory
Not on view