“Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies” by John Mix Stanley

“Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies” by John Mix Stanley depicts the American West and the Native American life in a highly naturalistic depiction.

Stanley was an artist-explorer, a painter of landscapes, and Native American portraits, and tribal life.

Unfortunately, over 200 of Stanley’s paintings, which were being held at the Smithsonian, were lost in an 1865 fire. This significant loss of most of his works makes this portrayal of the American West highly valued.

This painting is one of his few surviving works, reflecting his sympathy and skills in depicting American Indian traditions.

Stanley’s vision was to produce an atlas of the American Indian, but after losing most of his paintings, the 1865 fire, he never completed it.

He had also created an extensive collection of maps, which were held by the Smithsonian Institution. Unfortunately, they were destroyed in the 1865 fire.

We are fortunate to have this painting and can only imagine what could have been if Stanley’s paintings had not been lost.

Native American Horse Culture

A prehistoric horse had once existed in the Americas but became extinct some 12,000 years ago.

The horse was reintroduced to the Americas when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. They brought horses with them and re-established the animal on the continent.

The first horses to return were 16 horses brought by Hernán Cortés in 1519. Subsequent explorers brought increasing numbers, some from Spain and others from established breeding centers set up by the Spanish in the Caribbean.

The Native American people did not obtain horses in significant numbers to become a horse culture until 1630. From trade centers in the New Mexico area, the horse culture spread north.

The Comanche people were thought to be among the first tribes to obtain horses and use them successfully. By 1742, there were reports that the Crow and Blackfoot people had horses.

The horse became part of the lives and culture of Native Americans, who viewed them as a source of wealth and used them for hunting, travel, and warfare.

John Mix Stanley

John Mix Stanley (1814 – 1872) started painting signs and portraits as a young man. Then, in 1842 he traveled to the American West to paint Native American life.

During the Mexican–American War, he joined an expedition to California and painted scenes from the campaign and the Oregon Territory.

Stanley continued to travel and paint in the West. He never recovered his expenses for a decade of intensive work and travel.

His portrayal of the American West is valued, and national, and numerous regional museums hold his few surviving works.

Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies

Title: Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies
Artist: John Mix Stanley
Year: 1845
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions Height: 102.9 cm (40.5 in); Width: 154.3 cm (60.7 in)
Museum: Smithsonian American Art Museum

John Mix Stanley

Artist: John Mix Stanley
Born: 1814, Canandaigua, New York, U.S.
Died: 1872 (aged 58), Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality: American
Notable works:
- Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies
- Oregon City on the Willamette River
- John Mix Stanley, Self-portrait

The People of the Horse

Facts about Horses

Horses have been domesticated for over 5000 years.
Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up.
There are more than 300 different horse breeds in the world.
Because horses’ eyes are on the side of their heads, they can see nearly 360 degrees.
Domestic horses have a lifespan of around 25 years.
Horses gallop at around 44 kph (27 mph).
Horses are not color blind; they have a two-colored vision. Horses can see the spectrum’s blue and green tones and the color variations based upon them but cannot distinguish red.
Newly born horses can run shortly after birth.
Horses have around 205 bones in their bodies.
Horse hooves are made from the same protein that makes up human hair and fingernails.
Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day.
Horses have 16 muscles in their ears, allowing them to rotate their ears 180 degrees.
Horses have the most prominent eyes amongst mammal that lives on land.
There are around 60 million horses in the world.
A male horse is called a stallion, and a female horse is called a mare.
A young male horse is called a colt, and a young female horse is called a filly.
Horses use their ears, eyes, and nostrils to express their mood and through facial expressions.
Horses are social animals and will get lonely if kept alone.
Horses will mourn the passing of a companion.

How Did The Native Americans Get Horses?

Return of the American Bison

Virtual Tour of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

“Skating in Central Park” by Agnes Tait
“Buffalo Hunt on the Southwestern Prairies” by John Mix Stanley
“Surrender of a Confederate Soldier” by Julian Scott
“Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way” by Emanuel Leutze
“The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane” by John Quidor

Native Americans Saw Buffalo as More Than Just Food

A Tour of the Museums in Washington, D.C.

National Gallery of Art
National Museum of American History
National Air and Space Museum
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of Natural History
National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Phillips Collection
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
International Spy Museum

Buffalo Hunt

~~~

“Inside of me, there are two dogs. One is mean and evil, and the other is
good, and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins, I answer, the one I feed the most.”
– Sitting Bull – Native American Cheif

~~~

Photo Credit: 1) By Wikipedia Loves Art participant “trish” [CC BY 2.5 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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