1. Howard Terpning The Second Geronimo Campaign $950.00
On September 5, 1886, Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles sent a telegram to his superiors in Washington, D.C. announcing that the 16-month war with Geronimo was finally over. This marked the end of 25-years of intermittent warfare between the Chiricahua Apaches and the United States. Without Apache scouts (which included Western Apaches), chances are the military would not have accomplished this.
Geronimo’s final campaign began on May 17, 1885, with 143 followers, 41 of whom were fighting men. War weary or unhappy with Geronimo, the balance of the tribe, some 385 individuals, had stayed on the reservation. Hoping to put a quick end to the war, many of the remaining Chiricahua men actually enlisted as scouts. They were led by Chatto, a 40-year-old chief. Pursuing Geronimo was a dangerous task he recalled, “I carried a double cartridge belt with 45 to 50 cartridges on each belt. My rifle was loaded and my finger on the trigger following fresh tracks of hostiles, not knowing when a bullet might go through my forehead.”
This Greenwich Workshop MasterWork® Fine Art Canvas of The Second Geronimo Campaign is a powerful piece of history. Content, scale and collectability combine to make ownership a premium on this Howard TerpningŽ work of art.
2. Howard Terpning The Trackers $1250.00
“Over the years, I have seen many come and visit, yet most miss the obvious opportunities to truly see and hear the unique qualities of our tribal homeland,” relates Blackfoot Daryl Kipp in his introduction of Howard Terpning’s A Tribute to the Plains People. “Howard’s paintings serve an important role for their profound portrayal of Indian people, which help capture the ever-fading image of early-day Native America.”
Terpning’s description of The Trackers is such an observation, “Scenes such as this played out countless times in the 18th and 19th centuries. We don't know who they are tracking, but they do not seem to sense immediate danger because they don’t have their bows in hand. They see signs among the rocks, such as a broken twig or displaced moss. We do know that they won't give up their search ― whether they find the enemy they are seeking, we will never know.”
It is the power of Terpning’s artistic skill that enables these observations to be all the more profound. The Trackers is just the type of work to which Kipp refers. Two men inhabit a beautiful, pristine landscape. Howard conveys subtly, but implicitly, these men’s tie to it. For generations this has been their land and any disturbance to it will be noted and pursued.
At 30 x 32, this fine art giclée canvas presents brushstroke from brushstroke all the color and finesse of The Trackers original. Would you like to see this fine art edition in the comfort of your home before you buy? Check into our Try It at Home program.
3. Howard Terpning The Rivers Gift $1250.00
Opportunity and misfortune often traveled hand in hand in the Old West as Howard Terpning’s The River’s Gift so dramatically displays. Where are the pioneers who came west with this wagon? What were their dreams and desires? Did they reach the end of their trail forsaken and forlorn, like the shattered wood of the wagon?
Yet for these two Cheyenne, their find represents good fortune. They will strip the iron rims to make spear points and arrowheads. The spokes and the other wood will also prove to be useful. Perhaps, along the river’s bottom and edge, more bounty can be found.
The River’s Gift is not only masterful storytelling, it is masterfully designed and rendered as well. The massive wall of rock behind the Cheyenne keeps the eye from drifting off into the distance. The angle of the riders and the gap in the wall serve to drive your attention down to the river. Each rock is strategically placed to draw your eye to the broken wagon, which in turn directs you once again to the Cheyenne.
Presented as a gorgeous, over-sized MasterWork® Giclče canvas with a low edition, The River’s Gift is a prime example of why Howard Terpning is as sought-after and collected as passionately as he is.
4. Howard Terpning The Family Home SMALLWORK EDITION ON $295.00
The painted area around the bottom of the tipi cover is referred to as the Bottom Skirt and therefore symbolized Father Sky. All human events were contained between these two boundaries-Mother Earth below and Father Earth Above.
Owners of a painted tipi treasured it more as a religious symbol than as an aesthetic creation. Each design protected the family inside and was intended to help them live happy, successful and safe lives.
Family Home, a new SmallWorks® by Howard Terpning, lets us know that we are in a Blackfoot camp from the designs on the lodges. Mountain peaks decorate the base of the central tipi, the first of three bands usually found on a painted tipi. Bottom skirt designs used patterns that symbolized Earth’s surface. This paid spiritual tribute to the importance of Mother Earth. Designs at the tops of painted tipis represented the upper limit of the physical world, here a blue stripe for the sky and a red strip for life. The middle band could one day contain pictographs of war exploits or symbols that the family found important or lucky.
Family Home is a beautiful SmallWorks® Fine Art Canvas from The Greenwich Workshop. A colorful gem and unique scene of camp life from Howard Terpning, this edition is a perfect acquisition for the long time Terpning collector or first time buyer.
5. Howard Terpning Yapping Dogs SMALLWORK EDITION ON $295.00
When you visit the retrospective Howard Terpning: A Tribute to the Plains People at The Autry National Center, you will find that Terpning’s SmallWorks® and miniatures are as important as the larger works of any collection. Many a collector’s initial purchase is a miniature: the first jewel that opened the door to the joy of collecting. SmallWorks® also complete any fine art display with that final elegant touch.
Yapping Dogs was unveiled at the 2012 Settlers West Miniature Show in Tucson, AZ and was an immediate sensation. “This Chiricahua Apache warrior is returning to camp down river with his pack horse laden with goods that he may have obtained in trade, but we will never know for sure,” explains Terpning. “Every camp had many dogs always present to complain or greet old friends upon their arrival. Both Cochise and Geronimo were Chiricahua and this band of Apache was the last to oppose the U.S. government’s control of their ancestral lands.”
This 12 x 9 SmallWorks® Fine Art Edition Giclče canvas offers the collector or first time buyer a point of easy and affordable access to owning the work of one of the most important painters of our time.
6. Howard Terpning Broken Trail $1250.00
“These two Northern Plains warriors are following a trail that was probably a game trail originally,” Terpning relates about the painting. “Since they are using a pack horse, they are no doubt traveling a considerable distance. Snow melt or heavy rains could sometimes produce such a volume of water that it wiped away everything in its path. This landscape has been changed by the destructive forces of the water and what used to be a natural bridge of sorts has been completely washed away, so that these men must seek another route to reach their destination.”
This painting, and over 80, others will be on display in Howard Terpning: Tribute to the Plains People, a retrospective museum show opening May 12, 2012 at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, CA. Collectors will only have through July 1, 2012 to view this once-in-a-lifetime hanging of this many Terpning originals. Truly, by visiting this show, you will understand just why we refer to Howard as a “national treasure”. And, luck visitors will also have the chance to see just how exceptional a Greenwich Workshop Fine Art Edition of Howard Terpning’s work can be.
About the only downside of Terpning’s success is the lack of availability of his original work to even the most serious collector. It has been through our Fine Art Edition program that a broader, albeit select, audience has been able to enjoy the beauty, though exacting reproduction, of Howard’s work. Broken Trail is no exception. This 34” x 23” canvas captures every detail and nuance of this master’s original work. Broken Trail will be made available to collectors in an edition of only 125.
Make your plans to see the Autry’s upcoming Terpning retrospective this May or June and don’t wait until then to purchase Broken Trail. By spring, this edition will be hanging on the walls of a lucky few collectors and like many previous Terpning’s editions, it will be sold out and unavailable to even the most serious collector.
7. Howard Terpning Among the Spirits of the Long-Ago People $1450.00
You know a painting is special when itâs the piece in an exhibition that the collectors just stand in front of for a long period of time and simply donât say word. And, they keep coming back to do it again and again. If interrupted, theyâll return to it, intent on having the opportunity to enjoy a great work of art.
And in case we hadnât picked up on that at the Masters of the American West art show this past February, the phone calls coming in to ask us, âWhen are you going to release it as a Fine Art Edition?â were certainly another clue that demand would be high for this particular giclďż˝e canvas.
The winner of the 2011 Thomas Moran Award for Painting, Among the Spirits of the Long-Ago People is a magnificent work. Terpning begins with a simple common premise; the grandeur of nature can be sacred. He relates that emotion not by creating a landscape painting, but by focusing on the reverence these men have for what they see. The petroglyphs show that this is an ancient understanding. These men knew it to be so in their time, just as we do today. Their silence, as they take in the wonder about them, is not unlike that of the collectors we saw view this work for the first time.
âPetroglyphs on rock formations indicate that the visitors are in a spiritual place,â describes Howard Terpning, âa place blessed by the long-ago people. Numerous locations like this exist throughout Montana and Wyoming, sometimes high on a mountain with a spectacular view of Mother Earth. For centuries, Indian people have made the journey to these sacred places to give thanks for their blessings and to pray for success in hunting and in battle. Today, they continue to visit these sacred places as their forebears did, leaving small pieces of trade cloth and handmade objects decorated with beads or feathers as gifts for the gods.â
Among the Spirits of the Long-Ago People is available as a Fine Art Canvas. At 33â x 35â it is an impressive work that will majestically fill any large space. Our carefully crafted giclďż˝e canvas will give you the experience of owning this great work of art for significantly less than the price the original captured in February. Also available is a more moderately sized and wonderfully priced Fine Art Giclďż˝e Paper. Both editions, truly faithful reproductions of the original, are signed by Howard Terpning and numbered.
Collectors who waited too long to commit to last Fallâs The Legend of Geronimo missed out on what is a beautiful (and now hard-to-come-by) canvas or paper edition. Donât wait too long and miss out again!
8. Howard Terpning Horse of a Different Color $495.00
“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.”
As we made the selection of this painting to reproduce, it occurred to us that this is the first Terpning work we have published that focused so directly on the relationship between a father and a son. It surprised us that there were actually so few paintings he had done on the subject. We think that makes this release kind of special. By the way, Howard’s son Steven modeled for the boy.
9. Howard Terpning Light Cavalry SMALLWORK EDITION ON $225.00
“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 equipmentůa far cry from the so-called ‘light cavalry’ of the American army.”
To understand the relationship between the Native American and the horse is no easy feat, but, true to form, Howard Terpning has delivered.
10. Howard Terpning Medicine Shields of the Blackfoot $750.00
Among the Blackfoot people the shield was the most cherished and protective possession. Above all, it was a medicine object. Medicine shields have dream or vision origins. Making a shield could be a lengthy process involving several people, but it had to start with the hide taken from the neck and shoulder of a bull buffalo. Once the hair was removed, this thick hide was then placed over a fire pit filled with hot stones and staked to the ground. The heat of the stones would gradually shrink the hide until it was about one inch thick. It was then painted and decorated to conform with the owners dream. When the shield was not carried by the owner on a war party, it was supported on a tripod outside the tepee on sunny days, and as the sun moved, the tripod was turned so that the face of the shield would always be in direct sunlight.
11. Howard Terpning Medicine Horse Mask $975.00
From Howard Terpning, one of the most important artists in America, comes this stunning canvas featuring three Crow warriors preparing for an adventure. 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. Central to Native American medicine is the belief that each human, and every object, has a corresponding presence in the spirit world. These spirits can promote health, wisdom, and even success in battle.
12. Howard Terpning Three Generations $975.00
An extended family of Crow women is portrayed in Three Generations. Skilled in the many demanding domestic tasks of their culture, these tribeswomen passed their traditions down from one generation to the next, ensuring the future of their tribe and customs. In this family portrait, the distinctive and expressive faces of the grandmother, mother and granddaughter are unique and yet universal. The middle generation carries the weight of responsibility with dignity, the elder, perhaps, now knows joy in understanding the circle of all life and the adolescent is in that awkward stage we see in many of our own family portraits!
Howard Terpning, one of the most renowned and honored artists of our time, paints the heritage and culture of Native Americans, and in particular, the Plains Indians. Grandfather Speaks and The Teachings of My Grandmother are other recent (sold out) fine art canvas prints that focus on the importance of elders to the family life of the Plains Indian.
13. Howard Terpning BLESSING FROM THE MEDICINE MAN $950.00
Thunderstorms rumble across the plains indicating winter"s end and the onset of spring. The People, as the Blackfoot refer to themselves, use this as the signal to gather for the Thunder Pipe Ceremony, a celebration of spring rains, renewed life and good health. This sacred pipe, according to legend, was a gift to the People from the spirit of Thunder, who the Blackfeet believed was one of the mightiest manifestations of the All Powerful One. This gift was passed down through a succession of keepers. When a date for the opening of a pipe bundle is announced, four drummers are notified and a shaman is appointed. Arrangements are made for the feast and the sacred berry soup. The ceremony is held in two lodges placed face to face. The ceremony, likened to the fertility rites of other ancient peoples, is highly structured and the ritual is split between participants and spectators. The pipe bundle is unwrapped only after a morning of prayers and song. After a great feast, the ceremony continues for those who are authorized to dance with the pipe in order to receive its power. At the ceremony"s end, spectators were allowed to come forward and receive individual blessings from the medicine man, bestowed with four sacred streaks of red pigment, placed on the forehead, each cheek and chin. While these markings seem representative of the four directions, the certainty of their meaning lies with the medicine man.
14. Howard Terpning CHEYENNE MOTHER $695.00
"A nation is not conquered Until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is finished, No matter how brave its warriors Or how strong their weapons." " Cheyenne proverb Award-winning CA Emeritus artist Howard Terpning captures the solemn pride " and tenderness " of a young Cheyenne mother. She poses in her everyday dress of doeskin, a cradleboard secured to her back by straps around her chest and shoulders. From her belt hangs a knife in an elaborately fringed and beaded sheath.
15. Howard Terpning GRANDFATHER SPEAKS $875.00
0 "Among all the Plains Indians," Howard Terpning explains, "grandparents were revered by the young children for their wisdom and knowledge. These Blackfoot children listen intently as their grandfather speaks; later, when they have grandchildren of their own, the listeners will be the storytellers, keeping their oral history alive." Howard practically swept the awards at the annual Cowboy Artists of America exhibition in 1998. His works took the gold in the categories of Oil, Water Solubles and Drawing and Other Media. Terpning"s originals are virtually inaccessible except to a very few, one of many reasons why his giclee canvases present an exceptional collecting opportunity
16. Howard Terpning OFFERINGS TO SUN $950.00
The spiritual nature of the Plains Indians led them to create holy places to which they would go to commune with those spirits that guided their lives or to feel close to what some called the Sure-Enough Father. Native American friends took artist Howard Terpning to such a place on the Blackfeet Reservation south of Browning, Montana. For generations and generations, the Blackfeet had been going into the woods and attaching small offerings to tree trunks and branches. In earlier times these would have been such rarities as eagle feathers, ermine tails or medicine bundles containing items of religious significance. In modern times swatches of cloth are an accepted substitute, respectfully maintaining the custom of ancestors.
17. Howard Terpning Sunset for the Comanche MASTERWORK $2450.00
Artist Howard Terpning"s paintings of the American West have depicted some of the most dramatic and moving events in the history of the Plains People. In "Sunset for the Comanche," Terpning"s brush recalls the valiant struggle by the Comanche people to retain their land, their freedom and their way of life. "The Comanche people ruled the Southern Plains until the last quarter of the 19th Century," relates the artist. 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 as they know it."
18. Howard Terpning THE BONNET CASE $750.00
These northern Plains men may be getting ready for a ceremonial function that calls for the use of a bonnet. A bonnet case was typically made of rawhide and could store feathered headgear or even occasionally personal "medicine" -objects that people of the Plains believed gave them control over natural or spiritual forces.
19. Howard Terpning Vanishing Pony Tracks Masterworks $2250.00
"Horse stealing was a sport among the Plains Indians and an important way to gain honor and prestige among other members of their tribe," says Terpning. "The man in the foreground has his horse stealing medicine attached to his belt with a miniature rope. These four Blackfoot warriors had been following a large band of trappers, waiting for the right moment to capture some of their stock. They no doubt took these ponies in the middle of the night and are now trying to put as much distance as they can between them-selves and the trappers who are certainly attempting to track the Blackfoot and take their ponies back. These raiders are using every ruse to elude their pursuers including crossing the river in hopes that their tracks will be lost or at least delay their pursuers."
20. Howard Terpning ARMY REGULATIONS $235.00
These are four Shoshoni who volunteered to be cavalry scouts. They liked adventure and when everything else was disappearing in their culture, they opted for this as an alternative. They were very, very good at it. The painting shows the transition - an attempt at assimilation - from one culture to the other. Of course, it never worked. There were regiments in the Wyoming/Montana area who used Shoshoni scouts but this flag is of an undesignated regiment. The same is true of the location; a lot of landscape would have detracted from the purpose of the painting so the background was kept simple to enable the viewer to concentrate on these four men.
21. Howard Terpning SIGNALS IN THE WIND $225.00
A Blackfeet party studies a far-off message . . . . According To Terpning, Plains Indians often used smoke signals to communicate across great distances. The smoke was not normally used in the complex manner of Morse code but usually had a specific meaning agreed upon beforehand between senders and receivers. The signal here could convey any number of things: sighting of buffalo, for example, discovery of an enemy or simply provide a rallying point for scattered parties. Howard has painted few winter scenes, including "Chief Joseph Rides to Surrender" and "Winter Coat," but those he"s done have Sold Out at Publisher and we suspect that"s because collectors share his conviction not to romanticize the world of the Plains Indians. Their land, he reminds us, was not always lush, green and filled with plenty.
22. Howard Terpning THE WEATHER DANCER DREAM $225.00
"Originally I was going to paint 'The Weather Dancer' in an interior setting, but the very image of the finished painting came to me very late one night when I was fast asleep. Hence the title, 'The Weather Dancer Dream . . .'" Combining his artistry with his subconscious instinct, Terpning captures the glory of the Blackfoot Weather Dancer " a priestly figure charged with the responsibility to keep the weather favorable at the Sundance Ceremony. The majesty of Terpning's art matches the majesty of a man who could part a storm "standing amidst a deluge without being dampened before the rain would come to an inexplicable but merciful end.
23. Howard Terpning WAR STORIES $225.00
In the mid-1870s, the U. S. Army often employed Crow scouts to help patrol the western territories. The work had its dangers but there were also days of quiet routine. This is a scene that might have been repeated many times during those years: soldiers and scouts pausing to rest under the midday sun. The scout sitting on the ground has unfolded an elk hide and is recounting his war deeds painted there. The officer is listening beside him and the trooper in the background wear civilian hats. Military issue tended not to hold up to the rigors of army life. The scout wears a civilian shirt, as Native Americans commonly did at that time, as well as his war medicine amulet and necklace.
24. Howard Terpning Blackfeet Scouts in the Flathead Valley $1225.00
Blackfeet Scouts in the Flathead Valley - These Blackfeet scouts are searching for adventure in the Flathead Valley of Montana. They were generally enemies of the Flatheads and would pick a fight if they had the advantage. In this scene, the men have discovered a beaded pouch. By examining it, they will likely determine the tribe it belongs to. The Flathead people had settled in the Bitterroot valley to the south of the Flathead Valley, but they roamed far and wide in search of game, including the area around Flathead Lake. The weather is partly cloudy in the painting so it allows for interesting play of light and shadow. The mountain range in the background is identifiable as the Mission Range. In the summer of 2015 I took my first fishing trip down the Swan river in Montana with my daughter and when I saw my father, Howard Terpning, I told him how spectacular the scenery was and showed him a few pictures. So, two years later my father and I took a half day fishing trip down the Swan river during July of 2017. He never fished but took pictures the whole time for reference. It was that trip that helped create this painting and provided all the reference material. So, Im rather fond of this one for the memories I have during our time together. Steven Terpning
25. Howard Terpning Shield of Her Husband and Matching 5 X 7 Print $1150.00
Shield of Her Husband and Matching 5Ă7 Print - Among the Sioux people, the wife was allowed to carry the war shield of her husband. This was considered an honor and it enabled the wife to let everyone know that her husband was a true warrior. The shield was never allowed to touch the ground. Before the arrival of the horse, shields were quite large. The could be as much as three feet in diameter. When horses became available, the shield was reduced in size to about 18 or 20 inches because they were easier to carry on horseback. Shields were generally made from the hide on the hump of a buffalo because it was the thickest part. The finished shield could be a half an inch or more in thickness. They could deflect an arrow and in many cases even a lead musket ball. When more powerful rifles were developed, the shield lost its effectiveness. The symbols painted on the shield were the result of a vision that was experienced by the owner. Buckskin hide covers were also made for the shield. Sometimes more than one and each one was decorated in a different way. Feathers from birds of prey were very important attachments. These shield covers were discarded when going into battle. The shield from a spiritual standpoint was the warriors most important possession.
26. Howard Terpning A Friendly Game at Rendezvous 1832 $1950.00
A Friendly Game at Rendezvous 1832 - Great gatherings of trappers and Indians could go on for three or more weeks, during which they would exchange hides for trade goods to carry them through the winter, explains Howard Terpning. This rendezvous takes place at Pierres Hole (now known as the Teton Basin), which is identified by the hills in the background. Much of the mens leisure time was spent playing games of all sorts, with cards being one of their most popular pastimes. Showing both the gaming participants and their spectators enabled me to do studies of an assortment of characters. Although some of the natives may not have understood the game itself, they were undoubtedly drawn in by its excitement.
27. Howard Terpning Chased by the Devil $995.00
Chased by the Devil -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, emphasized by this awe-inspiring composition.
28. Howard Terpning Cheyenne Red Shield $275.00
Cheyenne Red Shield - Among the Northern Cheyenne people, there was a society called The Red Shield Society, or the âBull Soldiers.â This was the only soldier band so far as is known that carried a shield distinctive to the organization. The shields often had the buffalo tail hanging from the bottom. The members wore the skin of a buffalo bulls head with the horns attached. Once a man was elected to the society, he was a member for life.
29. Howard Terpning Medicine Man of the Cheyenne Masterwork Anniversary Canvas) $2250.00
MEDICINE MAN OF THE CHEYENNE - The medicine man, a central figure in Plains Indians tribes, was doctor, minister or priest and healer of the body and spirit. Not only did he know about the medicinal use of native plants, but he was trained in ceremonies and chants that were said to wield power for the benefit of an individual or the whole band. One of the most powerful paintings to emerge from the genre of Western art is Howard Terpnings Medicine Man of the Cheyenne. This classic work shows the medicine man, with a sacred medicine bundle hanging from his shoulder, aided by a woman, as required in the tribe, who drops sweetgrass and herbs into the fire as incense.
30. Howard Terpning SPIRIT OF THE PLAINS $950.00
SPIRIT OF THE PLAINS - They followed the warriors way as proud horsemen with an appetite for competition, excellence and danger. Emboldened by bravery and with the protection of their sacred medicines, the Plains Indians would fight for revenge but welcomed the chance to test their courage. Our ideal image of the Plains Indian warrior endures even though the full glory of his greatness has vanished. He remains an important American icon, every bit as pertinent to our past as the cracked bronze bell in Philadelphia or Plymouth Rock in New England. However, the âwinningâ of the American West is not a tale told of triumph, but rather of tragedy.
31. Howard Terpning Transferring the Medicine Shield (Anniversary Museum Canvas) $2950.00
Transferring the Medicine Shield (Anniversary Museum Canvas) - The shield was considered a medicine object among the Blackfeet people and was treated with the same great care and reverence as other medicine bundles. If the shield were to be transferred to another, it had to be exchanged in a formal ritual. As Terpning explains the ceremony, first a smudge would be made inside the tepee. The shield would be passed through the sacred smoke four times, four being considered a magical number by Plains Indians. The recipient of the shield was painted with yellow earth over the face and hands, the face would then be streaked by drawing the fingertips downward. A red transverse band was painted across the mouth. Four drums were beaten and special songs were sung. The seller then took up the shield and dodged about, pretending to avoid blows or arrow strikes, as in a fight. At the end of the ceremony, the recipient paid the former owner with a horse.
32. Howard Terpning CROWS IN THE YELLOWSTONE $1140.00
Government propaganda helped spread the rumor that the hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone kept âsuperstitiousâ Indians, who were âafraid of evil spirits,â away from this mystical and fertile land. Declared a national park in 1872, Yellowstone was the scene of a set of hostile encounters between Chief Josephs fleeing Nez Perce and visiting tourists in 1877. The conflict created a public relations nightmare for the fledgling park service. The rumor, which persists today, was created and perpetuated in order to counteract the subsequent bad press and to draw tourists back to the park. There is a world of difference between recognizing the sacred nature, mystery and power of a place and being afraid of it. The Crow respected and revered what they called âland of the burning groundâ or âland of vapors.â Although they lived primarily in the region to the east of what became Yellowstone National Park, the Crow camped and hunted throughout the region. The Crow were expert horsemen. They dubbed the horse "Ichilay," meaning âto search with,â perhaps referring to the search for enemies and game. While other Plains tribes used the travois for hauling, the Crow, from children to elders, all rode and used packhorses that enabled them to travel fast no matter what the terrain. The Crow were regarded as premier horse thieves. One of the four military tests for an aspiring Crow warrior was to sneak into an enemy camp at night, capture a fine horse and bring it back successfully. It was then almost impossible to catch the Crow, especially if they took refuge behind the Absaroka Range in what is now Yellowstone.
33. Howard Terpning CHIEF JOSEPH RIDES TO SURRENDER $3635.00
CHIEF JOSEPH RIDES TO SURRENDER ANNIVERSARY MUSEUM EDITION CANVAS - This powerful portrait of leadership in the face of fading freedom is an essential piece of art for any serious western art collector. Revered as one of his most desired works, it is now a monumental Museum Edition canvas, created hand-in-hand with, and signed by, Howard Terpning himself. Only a select few will have the opportunity to own this acclaimed work of art from one of the most venerated painters of our time. This long-awaited, Anniversary Edition Canvas depicts the great Nez Perce Chief in the foothills of the Bear Paw Mountainsâ only a days ride from the safety of the Canadian borderâmaking his way to capitulate to the U.S. Armys General Nelson A. Miles. It is a âmust haveâ Fine Art Edition for any Howard Terpning enthusiast. 100 years from now, Howard Terpning will be looked upon as one of the most important painters of our time. As quoted in the New York Times, â. . . everyone is after Terpnings work. They see him as the next Russell or Remington.â Through his art, he has shared the rich heritage of Native Americans with profound respect for the People and nature.
34. Howard Terpning DO NOT DISTURB $1215.00
s this serious brave pondering past or future battles, planning a hunting strategy, or perhaps thinking about a young woman he is courting? Even if this young man is momentarily lost in a simple daydream, it does not appear to be the time to disturb him. Something is in the works, on the horizon, and his horse is alert. Capturing the humanity of the Plains People--their strength, honor, beauty and freedom â and the harmony with the land that sustains their life, is Howard Terpnings extraordinary talent. It would be impossible for him to portray such emotion and power so convincingly if he did not possess these same qualities himself.
35. Howard Terpning COUNCIL MEDIATOR $795.00
A tribal council was, and is, an association of Native American bands or the governing body for certain tribes and are generally formed along regional or ethnic lines. In council, decisions were reached by consensus, but youth acknowledged the wisdom and experience of their elders. The ceremonial staff with feathers both signals this mediator's role and imbues him with the necessary gravitas to shoulder the responsibilities of the task. The mixed media original artwork is reproduced as a museum quality giclee on a 315g, 100% cotton rag paper with a velvet surface. âCouncil Mediatorâ is a unique piece for any Terpning collector, as well as a stand-alone, commanding centerpiece for a living room or office.
36. Howard Terpning COFFEE COOLERS MEET THE HOSTILES $3500.00
COFFEE COOLERS MEET THE HOSTILES MUSEUM EDITION CANVAS - The âCoffee Coolersâ or âRation Indiansâ were Indians who had signed a peace treaty and consented to live on a reservation or near an agency. To the âHostilesâ these fellow tribesman had given up the warrior life in exchange for the white mans handout. Sitting Bull expressed his contempt, âYou are fools to make yourself slaves to a piece of fat bacon, some hardtack, and a little coffee and sugar.â Yet, the animosity between the Hostiles and the Coffee Coolers was, in the end, misspent energy. Once the great westward expansion began in earnest, the Plains way of life, even for those who continued to hunt and fight, was doomed.
37. Howard Terpning WAR CHIEF $595.00
WAR CHIEF SMALLWORK CANVAS EDITION
38. Howard Terpning THE SECOND GERONIMO CAMPAIGN $1215.00
THE SECOND GERONIMO CAMPAIGN MASTERWORK CANVAS EDITION - On September 5, 1886, Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles sent a telegram to his superiors in Washington, D.C. announcing that the 16-month war with Geronimo was finally over. This marked the end of 25-years of intermittent warfare between the Chiricahua Apaches and the United States. Without Apache scouts (which included Western Apaches), chances are the military would not have accomplished this. Geronimos final campaign began on May 17, 1885, with 143 followers, 41 of whom were fighting men. War weary or unhappy with Geronimo, the balance of the tribe, some 385 individuals, had stayed on the reservation. Hoping to put a quick end to the war, many of the remaining Chiricahua men actually enlisted as scouts. They were led by Chatto, a 40-year-old chief. Pursuing Geronimo was a dangerous task he recalled, âI carried a double cartridge belt with 45 to 50 cartridges on each belt. My rifle was loaded and my finger on the trigger following fresh tracks of hostiles, not knowing when a bullet might go through my forehead.â
39. Howard Terpning HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL $3500.00
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL ANNIVERSARY MUSEUM EDITION - The 1876 defeat of Custers 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn proved to be a Pyrrhic one for the Sioux and the Cheyenne as well as the Plains Indian culture. From that point on, it became a priority for the U.S. government to establish unquestioned control of the West. The entire Plains Indian way of life came under attack with the intent to destroy it. Bison were no longer hunted for their hides, they were simply slaughtered. By 1881, most tribes had been hunted, harried and driven onto the harsh, unproductive lands sets aside as reservations. Confined, malnourished and stripped of their freedom and dignity, the suffocation of the Plains Indians and their culture was underway. In 1889, a Paiute medicine man, while suffering a high fever, had a vision. In it, he journeyed to the afterworld and saw that those who had died in the past were living a happy life. He was told that through dance his people could regain the old ways that had been taken from them. The dance would resurrect the dead, bring back the buffalo and cause the white man to disappear. That his vision occurred during a solar eclipse only added to its significance. The Ghost Dance swept the Plains like a wildfire and was embraced like a religion. The promise of a return to the life they had lost was a powerful intoxicant. As tribe after tribe entered the movement â the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Shoshone, Comanche and Sioux â the U.S. government became more and more concerned. The dancers wore loose shirts and dresses that were adorned with feathers, fringe and symbols of the moon and stars. They moved in a counter-clockwise direction to the rhythm of drums, chants and songs. Handfuls of dirt were hefted into the air to symbolize the burial of the white man. As they danced some would fall into trances where they claimed to communicate with the dead. It was believed that the Ghost Shirts and Dresses they wore would be impervious to the soldiers bullets. The Ghost Dance soon emboldened bands of Indians to leave their reservations and return to their old way of life. That was the beginning of the final end. The army hunted down those that left the reservations; leaders such as Sitting Bull were killed and finally, the violence culminated on December 29, 1890 with the massacre at Wounded Knee.
40. Howard Terpning THE TRACKERS $1595.00
"Over the years, I have seen many come and visit, yet most miss the obvious opportunities to truly see and hear the unique qualities of our tribal homeland," relates Blackfoot Daryl Kipp in his introduction of Howard Terpning "A Tribute to the Plains People." "Howard's paintings serve an important role for their profound portrayal of Indian people, which help capture the ever-fading image of early-day Native America." Terpning's description of "The Trackers" is such an observation, "Scenes such as this played out countless times in the 18th and 19th centuries. We don't know who they are tracking, but they do not seem to sense immediate danger because they don't have their bows in hand. They see signs among the rocks, such as a broken twig or displaced moss. We do know that they won't give up their search ¨D whether they find the enemy they are seeking, we will never know." It is the power of Terpning's artistic skill that enables these observations to be all the more profound. The Trackers is just the type of work to which Kipp refers. Two men inhabit a beautiful, pristine landscape. Howard conveys subtly, but implicitly, these men's tie to it. For generations this has been their land and any disturbance to it will be noted and pursued.
41. Howard Terpning PATIENT PROVIDER $950.00
"Patient Provider" reflects the values, purpose and determination of the Edition's owner as much as it does the proud people it depicts. The roles of father, son, husband, brother, friend, protector and provider are not always comfortable and easy, yet they define our highest purposes and the greatest accomplishments.
42. Howard Terpning Major North and the Pawnee Battalion $3125.00
Major North and the Pawnee Battalion, MASTERWORK CANVAS EDITION -"Major North and the Pawnee Battalion" is a brilliant, over-sized MasterWork Giclee Canvas that represents Howard Terpning at his finest. Composition and design are the special effects of painting and in Terpnings hands they transform a casual moment of camp life into an epic work of art. Following the Civil War, U.S. troops were dispatched to the northern Great Plains to quell Indian uprisings. Major Frank North enlisted one hundred Pawnee scouts to assist in the early campaigns against their old enemy, the Sioux. They were able allies. Later, as the Union Pacific Railroad built out onto the plains, a contingent of two hundred Pawnee was sent to provide security for the construction crews and was formally designated as Norths Pawnee Battalion. From the inspiration of an intriguing story, the Terpning goes on to work his magic. Beginning at the wagon wheel at left, the eye travels without rest through a vast range of unique moments in this painting: officers studying a map before a line of tents, their compatriots and horses, the atmospheric smoke, a central rider looking down, the Pawnee crouched, the individual with the high-hat and deftly angled rifle, to the flat behind with many Pawnee waiting in the distance. Then the eye rests a moment in the foreground then begins its journey all over again. The individuals are distinct, yet linked, like any command.
43. Howard Terpning CALLING THE BUFFALO $1595.00
The indomitable power of the human spirit binds mankind. We can recognize and identify with this across nationality, geography and time. Howard Terpnings ability to capture and express this in his art is what attracts us to his paintings and sets them apart from others. We share his awe for the beauty of our world in "The Force of Nature Humbles All Men," the burden of leadership in "Chief Joseph Rides to Surrender" and the expression of this Blackfoot medicine mans belief and faith in Terpnings newest release, "Calling The Buffalo."
44. Howard Terpning CROW COUNTRY $1450.00
CROW COUNTRY MASTERWORK CANVAS EDITION - "Crow Country" was a land truly blessed by Akba'tat-di'a (the Maker of Everything). At the height of Crow power, their territory consisted of some of the most stunning landscapes in all of North America. Extending from the Black Hills of North Dakota across Montana to the headwaters of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming, Crow country was a dynamic combination of buffalo-laden plains, thriving forests, mountain peaks and fertile valleys. âMy goal for this painting was to show a tranquil camp scene in a beautiful setting as a backdrop for a war party leaving to raid an enemy camp and perhaps steal some horses if the opportunity presented itself,â says Howard Terpning. âNormally, warriors heading for enemy camps to steal ponies would travel on foot and then ride the captured ponies back to their own camp, but they usually did what the leader of the war party wanted to do.â
45. Howard Terpning THE FAMILY HOME $443.00
THE FAMILY HOME SMALLWORK CANVAS EDITION - The painted area around the bottom of the tipi cover is referred to as the Bottom Skirt and therefore symbolized Father Sky. All human events were contained between these two boundaries-Mother Earth below and Father Earth Above. Owners of a painted tipi treasured it more as a religious symbol than as an aesthetic creation. Each design protected the family inside and was intended to help them live happy, successful and safe lives. The painted area around the bottom of the tipi cover is referred to as the Bottom Skirt and therefore symbolized Father Sky. All human events were contained between these two boundaries-Mother Earth below and Father Earth Above. Owners of a painted tipi treasured it more as a religious symbol than as an aesthetic creation. Each design protected the family inside and was intended to help them live happy, successful and safe lives.
46. Howard Terpning Bear Tracks $1015.00
47. Howard Terpning Whiskey Smugglers $1140.00
A band of Sioux warriors has come upon a wagon loaded down with contraband in Howard Terpnings award-winning "Whiskey Smugglers." The strangers talk and smile with their mouths but their eyes and their hearts are hard. The white mans whiskey was a curse upon the People. It induced an initial euphoric state like that experienced during a sacred vision quest. But there were no spiritual revelations . . . nothing at all but drunkenness and despair. The white mans empty promises and treaties could rob the People of their land. His whiskey could steal their souls.
48. Howard Terpning Traders Among the Crow $3765.00
Traders Among the Crow MASTERWORK CANVAS EDITION - The period in this scene is 1848â1850. These free traders have left the large fur companies and are working on their own. They have entered the edge of a Crow camp with many trade goods to entice the inhabitants to exchange buffalo robes for gun powder, lead, knives, axes, blankets, tobacco and the various other items displayed on the ground. They use a wagon to carry their goods, and perhaps for transportation because the man with the glengarry hat and a cane has an injured leg. (Wagons were used on the Santa Fe Trail as early as 1821 so by the late 1840s they could be found in many out of the way places throughout the Plains.) Howard made the group small to give the scene a sense of intimacy. Of course, there is no telling how many people are surrounding the group pictured.
49. Howard Terpning YAPPING DOGS $443.00
If you were lucky enough to visit the retrospective Howard Terpning: A Tribute to the Plains People at The Autry National Center in 2012, you would have found that Terpnings SmallWorks⢠and miniatures are as important as the larger works of any collection. Many a collectors initial purchase is a miniature: the first jewel that opened the door to the joy of collecting. SmallWorks⢠also complete any fine art display with that final elegant touch.
50. Howard Terpning FAR SEEING GLASS $2437.00
Who, or what, does this Blackfoot warrior search for in the valley below? Has news of an enemys war party reached camp? Are they war party scouts them-selves? Is the cavalry on the move? Perhaps, he spies buffalo or game? This rock formation is west of the Madison range in Montana, not all that distant from Yellowstone National Park. The Blackfoot people would often travel through this area and camp at various sites. A vantage point such as this, offering both concealment and scope of vision, would be the location of choice for any scout in the area. The monocular scope the warrior is using was a much sought after tool that was highly prized for obvious reasons. The Native Americans were quick to adopt whatever white man goods that they found useful.
51. Howard Terpning NEW DOLL FOR MY GRANDMOTHER $1595.00
Inspired by the artist's love of his own granddaughters, this elegant portrait of a devoted grandmother is distinctive within Terpning's work because of its focus on the feminine nature of tribal life. "Passing Into Womanhood,"
52. Howard Terpning HAWK FEATHERS $368.00
"Hawk Feathers" is not this Northern Plains Indians name, but rather, the adornment he wears in his hair. The hunting ability of the hawk was highly respected and its feathers were considered good medicine. Nearly every North American tribe used hawk feathers as a badge of honor and they were worn a good part of the time. This tribal member is also shown wearing his buffalo robe. Unlike Europeans, the plains people fashioned their robes with the fur on the inside and the smooth side of the hide facing out.
53. Howard Terpning WHERE SPIRITS DWELL $1850.00
To the Native American, a spiritual force was the source of all life and everything in nature had a soul, or a spirit, independent of its physical being. Their entire world was connected spiritually, with the physical and the mystical living side by side. This spirituality was the fundamental nature of the Plains Indian and the expanse of the West and the grandeur of its landscape only enforced this notion. âIt is important to show the American Indian as he appears in his natural surroundings,â says Howard Terpning. âHe lives with Mother Earth and his spirituality is bound to his environment. Many of my paintings are inspired by something in nature. What I look for in a landscape is how it can be dramatized to the best advantage in the painting.â Many of Terpnings most revered paintings focus on the wonder, admiration and respect the Native Americans held for the land in which they lived. "The Force of Nature Humbles All Men," "With Mother Earth" and "On the Edge of the World" all explore the introspective power nature has over man. "Where Spirits Dwell" takes that idea one step further by presenting, in scale, the majestic scope of the land in relationship to man.
54. Howard Terpning Paper That Talks Two Ways, The Treaty Signing Masterwork Canvas Edition) $1950.00
In the painting, we see a gathering of Cheyenne and Sioux men intently listening to a man who is an orator among his people. The words of the peace commission have been translated to him and he is expressing his distrust of those words. Terpning wanted the entire focus of the painting to be on the native people, so we see only the corner of a table and the shoes of the commissioner. The scene depicted here is not a specific treaty signing event, but it is loosely patterned after the Fort Laramie treaty of 1868. The title comes from the Indian expression that the treaty always said one thing to the white man and quite another to the native people.
55. Howard Terpning TRAIL IN THE BITTERROOTS $3125.00
âThis scene shows part of the old Lolo Trail used by the Nez Perce Indians when they left their home country in Idaho in 1877 and crossed over the Bitter Root range into the Bitter Root valley heading east in their attempt to reach Canada,â says artist Howard Terpning. âThe trail was extremely rough and dangerous and yet hundreds of people managed to cross the mountains, including old people and children, with all their horses and goods. It was an amazing accomplishment. I could paint this portion of the trail with some authority since I spent two days riding the trail on horseback in the summer of 1985. It was this adventure that inspired me to do the painting.â
56. Howard Terpning SEEKING WISDOM THROUGH THE PIPE $1915.00
To the Native Americans, growing tobacco was a sacred ritual. Smoking the pipe was a serious matter. It was not done casually. If a man or group of men took up the pipe, it was for the purpose of meditating and praying to resolve a problem that they might be confronted with. In other words, by smoking they hoped to gain wisdom. Incidentally, the tobacco tamper that the man is using is Sioux and dates from the mid-19th century. It is beautifully carved and wrapped with dyed porcupine quills.
57. Howard Terpning TRAIL ALONG THE BACKBONE $3125.00
The Blackfoot people referred to the Rocky Mountains as âthe backbone of the world.â 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 werent 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.
58. Howard Terpning DEEDS OF HIS FATHER $487.00
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 â 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 fathers painted robe on the back of his pony. He has placed his moccasins on the withers of his mount so they wont get wet as he cools his feet in the water.
59. Howard Terpning COUP STICKS AND WAR PAINT $995.00
These two Northern Plains warriors have applied their war paint and are ready for whatever trouble comes their way. To âcount coupâ on an enemy was a great war honor. It meant touching the enemy with any object in the warriors hand âa bow, a rifle or a special stick â usually adorned with at least one feather. It was called a coup stick and was carried for the express purpose of touching an enemy if he could get close enough. An accumulation of these war honors built a warriors reputation among his people, gave him great stature and gained the admiration of the people in his camp. His prowess as a strong warrior also made him more desirable to the young maidens who might be looking for a suitable mate.
60. Howard Terpning HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR $630.00
âI once read an account of a Cheyenne warrior who painted his body and his horses body entirely blue,â says Howard Terpning. âJust 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 warriors 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.â
61. Howard Terpning Found on the Field of Battle $1250.00
"This is another tight grouping of three men similar to 'The Long Shot,' with approximately the same scale of the figures in relation to the surrounding area. This type of composition can tell a story very well and the viewer can see the story immediately. These three Cheyenne warriors have been in a battle with the cavalry and in the aftermath of the conflict they were able to find trophies on the ground that they prized highly. One man wears a cavalry hat, another has found a dispatch case which will no doubt be converted into something more to his liking and the third man has a bugle, which will give him bragging rights. Finding trophies on the field of battle is something that has gone on since battles were fought and this is my interpretation of such an experience."
62. Howard Terpning THE HORSE DOCTOR AND HIS BAG $5695.00
âOnce the Plains people had become accustomed to owning horses,â says Howard Terpning, âa special class of medicine men emerged: those with unusual skill in healing the ailments of horses. Some remedies involved the use of various herbs and others would seem to us today like magic tricks, with no sound medical reasoning and yet they often worked wonders. The Nez Perce were among the best horse breeders, so it would follow that they produced excellent horse doctors. âThis scene at Rendezvous shows a group of Nez Perce and a white trader observing the initial meeting between a horse doctor and his patient. At some point in the healing process, the horse doctor will open his medicine bag and bring out the magical items and herbs that will, with luck, cure the animal.
63. Howard Terpning LIGHT CAVALRY $375.00
âThe Apache were great horsemen,â says artist Howard Terpning. âAll the Plains Indians were. This group of tribesmen travels between the mountains with only the clothes on their backs and a minimum of equipment â a far cry from the so-called âlight cavalry of the American army.â To understand the relationship between the Native American and the horse is no easy feat, but, true to form, Howard Terpning has delivered.
64. Howard Terpning WHITE WATER PASSAGE $2486.00
"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."
65. Howard Terpning LONELY SENTINEL $500.00
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.
66. Howard Terpning GRANDFATHER PRAYS TO SUN $2486.00
âMany years ago, I camped overnight about a hundred feet from this spot,â says Howard TerpningÂŽ. âAs 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. âNatosi (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 Suns 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.
67. Howard Terpning PROUD MEN $1593.00
"They followed the warrior's way," writes Don Hedgpeth, author of "Spirit of the Plains People: The Art of Howard Terpning." "They were proud prairie horsemen with an appetite for honor and the visceral thrill of danger. They looked death in the face and fought on, emboldened by bravery and the armor of their medicine. They rode for revenge but would fight too for no other reason than to plumb the depth of their courage. There was blood on the prairie where they passed by and women wailed in the lodges of their enemies."
68. Howard Terpning THE LONG TRAIL AHEAD $1250.00
âBlackfoot warriors often traveled great distances on foot,â says Howard Terpning. âThere 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 mans 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.â
69. Howard Terpning SUNSET FOR THE COMMANCHE $3123.00
Artist Howard Terpnings paintings of the American West have depicted some of the most dramatic and moving events in the history of the Plains People. In "Sunset for the Comanche," Terpnings brush recalls the valiant struggle by the Comanche people to retain their land, their freedom and their way of life. âThe Comanche people ruled the Southern Plains until the last quarter of the 19th Century,â relates the artist. 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 as they know it.â
70. Howard Terpning NECTAR OF THE GODS $2677.00
The Crow Indians (also known as Absaroka or Apsaalooke) historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley. In the middle of the 19th century a Crow man could stop at any stream and drink waters as pristine as they were when they first began to flow thousands of millennia before. Plentiful and pure, the Crow were thankful for its sweet and constant presence. While his companions remain alert to their surroundings, a man pauses to quench his thirst and rest his horses before continuing across the stream. âPeople might question the wisdom of a man drinking water from a creek downstream from approaching horses,â says Howard Terpning. âPerhaps a war party from a rival tribe is in the area and expedience is the better part of valor. The important thing to remember is that the 'Nectar of the Gods' was abundant . . . and when men were thirsty, they drank.â
71. Howard Terpning VANISHING PONY TRACKS $2868.00
âHorse stealing was a sport among the Plains Indians and an important way to gain honor and prestige among other members of their tribe,â says Terpning. âThe man in the foreground has his horse stealing medicine attached to his belt with a miniature rope. These four Blackfoot warriors had been following a large band of trappers, waiting for the right moment to capture some of their stock. They no doubt took these ponies in the middle of the night and are now trying to put as much distance as they can between them-selves and the trappers who are certainly attempting to track the Blackfoot and take their ponies back. These raiders are using every ruse to elude their pursuers including crossing the river in hopes that their tracks will be lost or at least delay their pursuers.â
72. Howard Terpning PROTECTORS OF THE CHEYENNE PEOPLE $2486.00
âThis painting provided me with the opportunity to portray three strong and resolute Cheyenne warriors in a simple setting of tranquility which belied the very nature of their responsibilities as providers and protectors of their women, children and old people,â says artist Howard Terpning of "Protectors of the Cheyenne People." âEven though it is said that they never numbered more than 3,500 people, the Cheyenne had strict social rules and strong warrior societies that made them a force to be reckoned with.â
73. Howard Terpning MEDICINE HORSE MASK $1241.00
From Howard Terpning, one of the most important artists in America, comes this stunning canvas featuring three Crow warriors preparing for an adventure. 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. Central to Native American medicine is the belief that each human and every object has a corresponding presence in the spirit world. These spirits can promote health, wisdom and even success in battle.
74. Howard Terpning ABANDONED $3378.00
Originally from Eastern Montana, the Crow Indians ranged far and wide by the 1870s. Parties of warriors would travel as far as the Rockies to raid rival tribes, hunt buffalo or chase off newly arrived settlers. This group of Crow inspects the remains of an unfinished, long-abandoned cabin they have encountered on one such journey. Such an intrusion would have been discovered on their own grounds long ago. While they, as much as anyone, would be curious as to the fate of its builders and seemingly hasty departure, they will also lose little time in determining if there is anything useful left. Certainly the copper pot will be claimed, along with any other useful items that can be found in the disarray. Frontier life presented as many perplexing mysteries and opportunities to the Native Americans as it did the white man.
75. Howard Terpning OFFERINGS TO SUN $1211.00
The spiritual nature of the Plains Indians led them to create holy places to which they would go to commune with those spirits that guided their lives or to feel close to what some called the Sure-Enough Father. Native American friends took artist Howard Terpning to such a place on the Blackfeet Reservation south of Browning, Montana. For generations and generations, the Blackfeet had been going into the woods and attaching small offerings to tree trunks and branches. In earlier times these would have been such rarities as eagle feathers, ermine tails or medicine bundles containing items of religious significance. In modern times swatches of cloth are an accepted substitute, respectfully maintaining the custom of ancestors.
76. Howard Terpning THE BONNET CASE $1083.00
These northern Plains men may be getting ready for a ceremonial function that calls for the use of a bonnet. A bonnet case was typically made of rawhide and could store feathered headgear or even occasionally personal "medicine" -objects that people of the Plains believed gave them control over natural or spiritual forces.
77. Howard Terpning CHEYENNE MOTHER $956.00
Award-winning CA Emeritus artist Howard Terpning captures the solemn pride â and tenderness â of a young Cheyenne mother. She poses in her everyday dress of doeskin, a cradleboard secured to her back by straps around her chest and shoulders. From her belt hangs a knife in an elaborately fringed and beaded sheath.
78. Howard Terpning Mystery of the Crow Medicine Horse Masks $1125.00
Mystery of the Crow Medicine Horse Masks
79. Howard Terpning Mystery of the Crow Medicine Horse Masks $1406.00
Mystery of the Crow Medicine Horse Masks
80. Howard Terpning Pursuit Across the Yellowstone $1450.00
Pursuit Across the Yellowstone - Painting horses moving in water is always challenging. Patterns in the water caused by the horses became an important part of the composition in this picture. Attempting to show part of the shoreline did not work visually, so I decided to put all the emphasis on the horses and riders. These Crow warriors are in hot pursuit of their enemy and hopefully their animation and determination is clear to the viewer.
81. Howard Terpning Beauty in the Field $1244.00
Beauty in the Field - Everyone should have beauty in their life. They first need to open their eyes and their heart to experience that beauty. This Northern Plains woman sits in the grass among a sea of wild flowers and appreciates the beauty surrounding her. Her own beauty blends perfectly with natures bounty to create a quiet, pleasing scene
82. Howard Terpning Beauty in the Field $995.00
Beauty in the Field - Everyone should have beauty in their life. They first need to open their eyes and their heart to experience that beauty. This Northern Plains woman sits in the grass among a sea of wild flowers and appreciates the beauty surrounding her. Her own beauty blends perfectly with natures bounty to create a quiet, pleasing scene
83. Howard Terpning Blackfeet Scouts in the Flathead Valley $1530.00
Blackfeet Scouts in the Flathead Valley - These Blackfeet scouts are searching for adventure in the Flathead Valley of Montana. They were generally enemies of the Flatheads and would pick a fight if they had the advantage. In this scene, the men have discovered a beaded pouch. By examining it, they will likely determine the tribe it belongs to. The Flathead people had settled in the Bitterroot valley to the south of the Flathead Valley, but they roamed far and wide in search of game, including the area around Flathead Lake. The weather is partly cloudy in the painting so it allows for interesting play of light and shadow. The mountain range in the background is identifiable as the Mission Range. In the summer of 2015 I took my first fishing trip down the Swan river in Montana with my daughter and when I saw my father, Howard Terpning, I told him how spectacular the scenery was and showed him a few pictures. So, two years later my father and I took a half day fishing trip down the Swan river during July of 2017. He never fished but took pictures the whole time for reference. It was that trip that helped create this painting and provided all the reference material. So, Im rather fond of this one for the memories I have during our time together. Steven Terpning
84. Howard Terpning Dust of Many Pony Soldiers and Matching 5X7 Print $2300.00
Dust of Many Pony Soldiers and Matching 5Ă7 Print - Although this painting concerns a column of troops on the search for Indians, Howard Terpning has chosen to look at the situation from the point of view of three Sioux warriors watching them from afar. The grave faces of these men are a mute reflection of what they see, and what the future portends for them and their people. Their outmoded armament, old flintlock rifles, indicates that they will not be able to mount an effective defense and that the eventual outcome will be their defeat. In that sense, this work foretells the destruction of a free peoples way of life.
85. Howard Terpning Crossing Below the Falls $2950.00
Crossing Below the Falls - The Blackfoot still live at the edge of one of natures most spectacular regions, the eternal and primitive wilderness that is now known as Glacier National Park. Two Blackfoot warriors from a time long past are portrayed against but one of the dramatic landscapes that abound in this special place of scenic splendor in the mountains of Montana. The inspiration for this setting, Running Eagle Falls is located in East Glacier, Montana. Two Blackfoot men navigate a shallow crossing as the late sun spreads across the mid-ground in this painting. Bits of light hit the trees leaning from the left and right edges and a critical touch of sun hits the top of the falls.
86. Howard Terpning Seeking Guidance from the Great Spirit $1813.00
Seeking Guidance from the Great Spirit - Native Americans believed that there was a force that ruled nature. Using the pipe as a means of connecting with the great spirit, they would seek guidance from Mother Earth, the Four directions, and the Great Spirit above, to direct their course to a proper resolution of their problems. The Crow People also called the one above, The First Maker. They held the bowl of the pipe down and passed the pipe from left to right. Each person in turn saying a prayer. These Crow men are seeking guidance through the smoking of their medicine pipe.
87. Howard Terpning Seeking Guidance from the Great Spirit $1450.00
Seeking Guidance from the Great Spirit - Native Americans believed that there was a force that ruled nature. Using the pipe as a means of connecting with the great spirit, they would seek guidance from Mother Earth, the Four directions, and the Great Spirit above, to direct their course to a proper resolution of their problems. The Crow People also called the one above, The First Maker. They held the bowl of the pipe down and passed the pipe from left to right. Each person in turn saying a prayer. These Crow men are seeking guidance through the smoking of their medicine pipe.
88. Howard Terpning Transferring the Medicine Shield (Anniversary Masterwork Canvas) $1450.00
Transferring the Medicine Shield (Anniversary Masterwork Canvas) - The shield was considered a medicine object among the Blackfeet people and was treated with the same great care and reverence as other medicine bundles. If the shield were to be transferred to another, it had to be exchanged in a formal ritual. As Terpning explains the ceremony, first a smudge would be made inside the tepee. The shield would be passed through the sacred smoke four times, four being considered a magical number by Plains Indians. The recipient of the shield was painted with yellow earth over the face and hands, the face would then be streaked by drawing the fingertips downward. A red transverse band was painted across the mouth. Four drums were beaten and special songs were sung. The seller then took up the shield and dodged about, pretending to avoid blows or arrow strikes, as in a fight. At the end of the ceremony, the recipient paid the former owner with a horse.
89. Howard Terpning Calling the Buffalo Limited Edition $1250.00
The indomitable power of the human spirit binds mankind. We can recognize and identify with this across nationality, geography and time. Howard Terpnings ability to capture and express this in his art is what attracts us to his paintings and sets them apart from others. We share his awe for the beauty of our world in The Force of Nature Humbles All Men, the burden of leadership in Chief Joseph Rides to Surrender and the expression of this Blackfoot medicine mans belief and faith in Terpnings newest release, Calling The Buffalo.
90. Howard Terpning Whiskey Smugglers $895.00
A band of Sioux warriors has come upon a wagon loaded down with contraband in Howard Terpnings award-winning "Whiskey Smugglers." The strangers talk and smile with their mouths but their eyes and their hearts are hard. The white mans whiskey was a curse upon the People. It induced an initial euphoric state like that experienced during a sacred vision quest. But there were no spiritual revelations . . . nothing at all but drunkenness and despair. The white mans empty promises and treaties could rob the People of their land. His whiskey could steal their souls.
91. Howard Terpning White Man Fire Sticks Masterwork Canvas Edition) $1450.00
Warriors engaged in battle, a fine art first for Howard Terpning. It is a moment captured with a veterans eye: rarely does a soldier see or aware of much in battle except what happens immediately around him. This is a classic Terpning, subtle and elegant to the eye because of a powerful and complex design beneath. It is a merging of The Long Shot and The Force of Nature Humbles All Man.
White Man Fire Sticks was the last painting Howard completed before his phenomenally successful one-man retrospective A Tribute to the Plains People. It was an image never before seen by the public and it was one of the most popular at the show.
"The Native people were awestruck when they first saw firearms carried by the white man and how destructive they were" Terpning says. âThe early muskets were smooth bore flintlocks and, for their time, were very effective although such a weapon took time to re-load as opposed to the use of the bow and arrows.
âTo the first Americans, they seemed to be sticks that shot fire out of one end. These two Blackfoot warriors are engaged in a small skirmish with their enemy, possibly the Flatheads. This area is near the Swan River in the Flathead Valley of Montana.â
White Man Fire Sticks is a rare action piece from Howard Terpning and the response to it has extremely enthusiastic. It will be made available as two Fine Art Editions. The striking MasterWorkÂŽ Canvas is at 29 x 39 in an edition of 125. A beautiful and very affordable Paper Giclee measures 17 x 23 and is part of an edition of 175.
Whether you are a longtime Terpning collector or considering purchasing your first, White Man Fire Sticks is an investment well worth making.
92. Howard Terpning NEW DOLL FOR MY GRANDMOTHER $1250.00
Inspired by the artist's love of his own granddaughters, this elegant portrait of a devoted grandmother is distinctive within Terpning's work because of its focus on the feminine nature of tribal life. "Passing Into Womanhood,"
93. Howard Terpning Guarding the Lodge $795.00
Guarding the Lodge - âLet whoever may have attained so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a great treasure.â Michelangelo, There is a fundamental truth in art: learn to draw and the painting will follow. Drawing is the coordination of line, tone, perspective and proportion. It is the firm foundation on which a great painting rests. As a step in the creation of a painting itself, it is the part of the process by which the artist makes it clear to himself, not the spectator, what he is doing. As finished art unto itself, Salvador Dali said, Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad. With âGuarding the Lodge,â we see just how remarkable and powerful a drawing can be. The original is a mixed-media charcoal drawing on masonite. It was the 1998 Gold Medal Award Winner for Drawing and Other Media at the annual Cowboy Artist of America show. During that same event, Terpning collected the Gold Medal Award for Oil Painting for âOfferings to the Little People.â To top off the evening of achievement, Howard took home the Artist Choice Award for Best in Show as well. This Blackfoot warrior is placing his sacred medicine bundles on a tripod outside of his tipi. These sacred bundles were always hung behind the tipi, describes Terpning. In working on this composition, I felt that the tripod itself was such a strong design element that I wanted to make sure that it was prominent in the overall layout of the picture. The important thing was to make sure that the figure was clearly visible and that the viewer could see that he was attaching the bundle as he held the other items in his left arm.
94. Howard Terpning Guarding the Lodge $993.00
Guarding the Lodge - âLet whoever may have attained so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a great treasure.â Michelangelo, There is a fundamental truth in art: learn to draw and the painting will follow. Drawing is the coordination of line, tone, perspective and proportion. It is the firm foundation on which a great painting rests. As a step in the creation of a painting itself, it is the part of the process by which the artist makes it clear to himself, not the spectator, what he is doing. As finished art unto itself, Salvador Dali said, Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad. With âGuarding the Lodge,â we see just how remarkable and powerful a drawing can be. The original is a mixed-media charcoal drawing on masonite. It was the 1998 Gold Medal Award Winner for Drawing and Other Media at the annual Cowboy Artist of America show. During that same event, Terpning collected the Gold Medal Award for Oil Painting for âOfferings to the Little People.â To top off the evening of achievement, Howard took home the Artist Choice Award for Best in Show as well. This Blackfoot warrior is placing his sacred medicine bundles on a tripod outside of his tipi. These sacred bundles were always hung behind the tipi, describes Terpning. In working on this composition, I felt that the tripod itself was such a strong design element that I wanted to make sure that it was prominent in the overall layout of the picture. The important thing was to make sure that the figure was clearly visible and that the viewer could see that he was attaching the bundle as he held the other items in his left arm.
95. Howard Terpning Color of Sun $2125.00
Color of Sun - This Crow warriors face and body are painted yellow to reflect life. To Native Americans, the color yellow represented the sun and the sun meant life. The sun made the grass and trees grow and it warmed the body and the earth. "Once I had settled on the subject for this painting, it was a matter of balancing the human and animal figures and juxtaposing them with the yellow of the flowers and the somewhat interpretive greens and browns of the foreground and background."
96. Howard Terpning Dust of Many Pony Soldiers $1250.00
Dust of Many Pony Soldiers - Although this painting concerns a column of troops on the search for Indians, Howard Terpning has chosen to look at the situation from the point of view of three Sioux warriors watching them from afar. The grave faces of these men are a mute reflection of what they see, and what the future portends for them and their people. Their outmoded armament, old flintlock rifles, indicates that they will not be able to mount an effective defense and that the eventual outcome will be their defeat. In that sense, this work foretells the destruction of a free peoples way of life.
