The Honor of Being Pipe Carrier
$1,800.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
Four figures stand with quiet confidence beneath a high, sunlit sky, and you immediately sense both their individuality and the shared purpose between them. Terpning arranges the men and their mounts in a compact group so their faces, clothing, and gear become the story: the mix of military accoutrements and traditional dress, the worn saddles, and the small regimental flag all suggest a careful, uneasy meeting of two worlds. The palette—warm tans and ochres for the grass and horses set against the cool blue of the sky and the dark coats—feels honest and restrained, letting gesture and expression carry the mood rather than drama or landscape. Light models the figures softly, giving weight to posture and the tilt of a hat or the glance shared across horses. There’s a calm dignity here, an image of adaptation that acknowledges courage without erasing complexity. It’s a contemplative scene that rewards attention to faces and details, offering a quiet reflection on change and resilience.
The Artwork
About Army Regulations
Army Regulations — Artist Proof Lithograph
Army Regulations — Artist Proof Lithograph - 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.
Collector Details
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About the Collection
Howard Terpning is one of the most celebrated Western artists, known for his historically rich and emotionally compelling depictions of Native American life. With a deep respect for Plains Indian culture, his paintings capture narrative storytelling in art, bringing history to life through traditional oil paintings. A member of the Cowboy Artists of America, Terpning’s work is recognized for its historical realism and museum-quality craftsmanship. His fine art prints and originals are highly sought after, making him a defining figure in American West painting.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Howard Terpning.
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Authenticity & Documentation
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Quite simply, Howard Terpning is one of the most lauded painters of Western art. His awards are so numerous and he is honored with them so often, that to list them would require changing the count every few months. To name three would be to cite the highest prizes awarded to Western art: countless awards from the Cowboy Artists of America, the Hubbard Art Award for Excellence, the National Academy of Western Art s Prix de West and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gene Autry Museum.
Why such praise? Passion, compassion, devotion and respect for his subject matter, extraordinary talent in palette and brushstroke, an exceptional ability to evoke emotion both in his paintings and from those viewing them — all this and more has made Terpning the "Storyteller of the Native American."
Born in Illinois and educated at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the American Academy of Art, he first gained attention from some powerful Time and Newsweek covers. Film fans praised his movie posters for such classics as The Sound of Music, Dr. Zhivago and the re-issue of Gone with the Wind.
But his love of the West and Native American traditions saw his transition to fine art. Terpning was a long-time member of the Cowboy Artists of America, which has presented him with Gold and Silver awards, "Best of Show" awards, and "Best Overall Show by a Single Artist" awards more than two dozen times.
His first book, The Art of Howard Terpning won the Wrangler "Outstanding Art Book" award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Spirit of the Plains People, his second book, was released in 2001 in conjunction with a one-man show at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. A third, Tribute to the Plains People, was released in 2012 to celebrate his retrospective at The Autry National Center in Los Angeles.
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