The Blackfoot people
referred to the Rocky Mountains as “the backbone of the world.” From the
foothills of Rockies to the East extend the Great Plains. To the West,
the Rockies ultimately drop off into the Pacific Ocean. Add in the
amazing length of the Rockies from North to South and it is not hard to
see that from the Blackfoots’ limited perspective at that time, they
weren’t that far off the mark. There were trails that went across and
over the Rockies at various places. In all probability they were
originally game trails that were then used by man. This painting
represents such a trail being used by three Blackfoot Warriors.
In the 18th and 19th
centuries, many Plains warriors told the stories of their war deeds and
accounts of important events that took place each year in their lives,
in simple form drawings that were not literal but rather highly
stylistic—with many symbols that were understandable only to the Native
Americans. These stories were drawn and painted on hides such as
buffalo, elk, deer and antelope. The warrior who produced the drawing on
animal hides was telling friends and foe alike of his many
accomplishments and deeds of bravery.
This painting shows a young warrior proudly displaying his father’s
painted robe on the back of his pony. He has placed his moccasins on the
withers of his mount so they won’t get wet as he cools his feet in the
water
Small Work
Giclée Canvas hand signed by
the artist
I once read an account of a
Cheyenne warrior who painted his body and his horse’s body entirely blue,” says
Howard Terpning. “Just imagine the startling effect that must have had on his
enemies as he charged them in battle. That description gave me the idea for the
title (which seemed obvious). Adding the warrior’s son in the painting felt
logical and gave the picture a higher level of human interest. To have listened
in on the father and son conversation as this warrior prepared himself for
battle would have been something.”
“The Apache were great
horsemen,” says artist Howard Terpning. “All the Plains Indians were. This group
of tribesmen travels between the mountains with only the clothes on their backs
and a minimum of equipment—a far cry from the so-called ‘light cavalry’ of the
American army.”
Small Work
Giclée Canvas hand signed by
the artist
"When the American West was
truly wild country," says artist Howard Terpning, "sometimes traveling on
horseback was very difficult, if not impossible. Dense forests and fallen
timbers often required riders to dismount and lead their horses through a
passage that under normal conditions wouldn't even be considered. In this case,
these Crow warriors have found the forest so dense that passing through on
horseback was out of the question, so their line of least resistance was forging
ahead through icy cold water and slippery boulders.
"I enjoy painting water for a great many reasons, particularly white water. As
an artistic device it creates drama and tension and draws the viewer's eye
through the scene. I wanted to express the motion of these travelers and the
dangers they faced. Capable, resilient and experienced though these men might
have been, the great force of the rushing waters posed quite a threat to them
and their laden horses as they crossed."
Fine Art Master Work Giclée Canvas hand signed by
the artist
Few works garner more attention at the major shows
than a Howard Terpning painting. Devotion to the
subject, extraordinary brushwork and a sensitive
palette drive the thunderous acclaim.
Hard Trails Wore Out More than Ponies
brings together all these elements in a classic
Terpning work of art. The original painting won the
Thomas Moran Memorial Award for Painting at the
Autry National Center’s 2008 Masters of the American
West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale and sold for over
$1.25 million.
“Moccasins and all manner of equipment wore out
constantly when the Plains Indians were traveling,”
says Howard Terpning. “The long days were hard on
their ponies and their gear. On lengthy journeys,
they always carried awls and extra buckskin to make
repairs on their moccasins. These three Blackfoot
men have stopped to rest their horses and themselves
so that they may continue on their hard trail.”
Fine Art Master Work Giclée Canvas hand signed by
the artist
“Many years ago, I camped overnight about a hundred
feet from this spot,” says Howard Terpning. “As I recall, it is in an area of
the Ruby Mountains in Montana, which was part of the vast region that was home
to the Blackfoot people.
“Natosi (sun) was the dominant power in their lives and they believed that Sun
gave life-giving energy to all things. I imagined that early one morning as
Sun’s rays swept across the land, this old man dismounted from his pony. He held
up his sacred eaglewing fan and his pipe and prayed to Sun as his two warrior
grandsons looked on with deep respect for their grandfather and the traditions
he embodied.
Limited edition
giclee canvas
hand signed by the artist
“Blackfoot warriors often traveled great
distances on foot, There are accounts of men walking as far south as
Mexico (the “always-summer land”) to obtain horses. A lone warrior
might decide to explore an unfamiliar part of the country; travel
alone and on foot to seek out and avenge an enemy or to perhaps
steal horses from that enemy. Whatever this man’s reason was for
walking a great distance we can only speculate, but he had the
survival skills and stamina to accomplish just about anything he set
out to do … provided he avoided
enemy war parties.”
In the middle of winter, on the side of
a snow-blanketed mountain, The Lonely Sentinel guards his post.
Although he is beset on all sides by icy blasts and his horse
shivers beneath him, the sentinel knows the value of honor and duty
and will allow no wind to bow his head or bend his back.
The title of shaman was given to
a person within a tribe who had powers beyond the limits of
human understanding. The shamans were remarkable not only
for their extraordinary powers, but for their ability to
control them. The Native people of the American plains
accepted these powers as proof of supernatural blessing,
both of the shaman and of their tribes.
It was not uncommon for a
shaman to give a public demonstration to inspire wonder and
awe in his audience. In The Shaman and His Magic Feathers, a
shaman has invited a small group of his tribesmen to witness
his magical abilities. Away from the camp, the shaman has
built a small fire and blessed it with sage and juniper.
Before the approaching storm arrives, he will use his powers
to float the feathers in the air above the flames, where
they will hang for as long as he wishes.
Fine Art Museum Edition Giclée
Canvas
hand signed by the artist
“The Comanche
people ruled the Southern Plains until the last quarter of the 19th Century.
Their warriors were said to be some of the best horsemen in the world and
yet constant warfare and broken treaties drastically reduced their numbers.
The Quohadi (the antelope clan) were the last of the people to surrender. To
me, this scene represents the symbol of their strength as they clung to
their old way of life as a warrior society. The sun is low on the horizon
and the cottonwood trees cast long shadows that forebode the demise of their
culture.”
The Native Americans had a multitude of ways to
communicate with other members of their tribes. The Cherokee would bend a
small sapling nearly to the ground, using the now-crooked tree to indicate a
direction. Some of these crooked trees can still be seen today. Other
trail-marking methods included piling stones or branches to create what are
known today as cairns. If a trail was devoid of natural debris, a traveler
might leave a personal item along the trail to attract attention and direct
those who would follow. The horseman in this scene has found the marker left
by his predecessor, confirming that he is on the right track.
A Northern Plains Indian sits quietly on his
pony. A second horse on a lead drinks calmly from the stream in which they
stand. Even the stream is at peace. Terpning has captured a moment of
stillness, perhaps a moment for pondering life's meaning. What is this
warrior thinking? Will this be one of only a few quiet moments in his day?
"I wanted to capture how much the Native people enjoyed the beauty and
serenity of the land."
- Howard Terpning
Three Apaches race
to stay ahead of a dust devil, the desert hot-weather whirlwind full of dust
and debris.These ethereal pillars of air and dirt have meandered the baked
earth since the oceans first receeded.The white man speaks of thermals and
explains them in dry meteorological terms, but the Apache knew better. He
knew that the devil was inside the whirlwind, and that if you were caught
you would soon die. Howard Terpning created a strong feeling of motion to
convey the sense of the Apaches galloping their horses as hard as they
could, which is emphasized by this awe--inspiring composition.
Some years ago, while riding horseback in the
Bitterroot Range with a friend, we came upon this interesting maze of rocks
and fallen timbers high up in the mountains,” says Terpning regarding the
inspiration for Camp at Cougar’s Den.“
Upon close examination we could detect the smell of a cougar in the small
cave-like enclosure. The whole scene took on an even more primitive and wild
nature, and I knew that this den could be the setting for a story. I
realized a camp scene would be a logical choice, with Blackfoot raiders out
to create some mischief and stopped for the night before traveling on.”
The head masks (or
face masks) worn by horses were usually made for leading warriors and were
considered medicine objects that gave power, protection and strength to the
horse and its rider. The masks often had beautiful quill work, beads and
feathered adornment and their design was sometimes inspired by a vision.
Cheyenne at the Disappearing Creek Called "White Woman"
“In the 19th
century and before, in what is now western Kansas, there was an area called
the ‘White Woman Basin.
Small parties of Cheyenne warriors would often stop with their horses for a
welcome drink.”
During the
early part of the 19th century, the Blackfoot Nation was the dominant tribe
of the North Central Plains. Their territory included some of America’s best
beaver trapping streams. This lone trapper will need to draw on all his
skills and luck if he is to survive being caught out in the open by this
stealthy war party.
