Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri, and Pawnees
 | |
| Artist | Charles Bird King |
|---|---|
| Year | 1821 |
| Type | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 71.1 cm × 91.8 cm (28.0 in × 36.1 in) |
| Location | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri, and Pawnees is an 1821 painting by the American portrait artist Charles Bird King (1785–1862), best known for his portrayals of significant Native American leaders and tribesmen.[1]
The painting portrays Plain Indian chiefs who among many others traveled to Washington to meet with the president to negotiate their territorial rights with the government. At the White House, the Capitol, and in private homes, policymakers employed bribery, dazzle, and intimidation to win the cooperation of these men. In his Seventh Street studio, Charles Bird King painted their portraits, creating a gallery of allies in the government’s plan to settle the Indian question peacefully.
In the painting Chief War Eagle wears a presidential peace medal, valued by Native Americans as a sign of status and worn on all formal occasions. The artist painted the chiefs with a war axe, blood-red face paint, and eagle feathers atop their heads, reinforcing the romantic image of Indians.[2]
References
- ↑ "Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri, and Pawnees". americanart.si.edu. Retrieved November 2014.
- ↑ Smithsonian American Art Museum