Sketch from life : Chief Tall Bear, and photos of Henry H. Cross

Collection — huntington box: 39b - folder 1

Identifier: 9077

Scope and content

Oil painting on board of Chief Tall Bear. Includes photocopy of an excerpt about Cross from The Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West. Back of painting has inscription to "Minnie Walkin, compliments of H. H. Cross." The corner that has the date is missing. The back states that Tall Bear was a member of the Blackfeet Indians. Also included are two signed photographs of Cross. One says "Why Not, 1915"; the other shows Cross in his studio surrounded by his paintings, and is inscribed "To my esteemed niece Marnie Newhaus, compliments, March 24, 1916.".

Dates

ca. 1900.

Creator

Cross, Henry H., 1837-1918. (Person)
Huntington Free Library (Former owner, Organization)

Biographical / Historical

Henry H. Cross was born in Flemingville, NY. He was a painter of Indian portraits as well as of race horses. He studied with Rosa Bonheur In Paris before returning to the U.S. and heading west. He painted Sioux Indians sentenced to death by President Lincoln in 1862 in Minnesota, and spoke fluent Sioux. He also traveled with P. T. Barnum's circus, painting what he saw. His studio was based in Chicago, Illinois.