The War Chief's Treasure

Dave McGary 2008

Bronze
Masterwork
35 x 23 x 14

Dave McGary's newest sculpture, “The War Chief’s Treasure” is the latest addition to his Upper Missouri Series. Here, for the first time, McGary introduces a female into the series (the war chief’s wife) as commented by the historical painter George Caitlin of the 1830s during the time he painted both of their portraits. She was truly the “apple of his eye.” “The War Chief’s Treasure” will be available as a masterwork, maquette and a bust of the chief.

This distinctive masterwork is a bronze of the celebrated historical warrior, Buffalo Bull’s Back Fat, Stu-mick-o-súcks, head chief of the Blackfoot, Blood Tribe. He is depicted standing proudly dressed in his war shirt which is garnished with porcupine quill work and trade beads. Attached to the seams of his shirt and leggings are 156 scalp locks, symbols of his victory over his opponents. He stoically wears his war robe which portrays war exploits of his tribal enemies painted on the back of the robe (the Crows, the Shoshones, the Knisteneaux, Assinneboins and Ojbbeways). He displays both his gun stock war club and personal bag. The bag, made of river otter, is elaborately adorned with porcupine quill work, trade beads, and bells.

Standing beside him, with all her beauty and grandeur, is his young wife Eeb-nis-kin- The Crystal Stone. Never letting her out of his watchful eye, he protects, shields, and guards her like a rare gem. She is exempted from the common daily work normally done by the women of the tribe.

Dave McGary is set apart from other bronze artists by the strong ties he establishes within the cultures he documents and preserves in bronze. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a premiere realist sculptor for his bronze portraits of Native Americans, dated back to the early part of the 19th Century.

Artist’s Historical Note: The Blackfoot Nation is comprised of four Blackfoot nations, all with a strong cultural and historical background. In “The War Chief’s Treasure,” McGary focuses on the fourth of these nations, the northern Montana tribe, who reigned over this area in the mid nineteenth century. These powerful nomadic hunters, known for their relentless buffalo hunting, resided along the river and were enemies of the Shoshone, Flathead, Kootenai and Nez Perce. Their tribal population was severely decreased due to disease outbreak in the early 1800s. Today the tribe remains proud, strong, and steadfast in its rich heritage on the Blackfoot reservation in Montana.

Please contact the Meyer-Milagros Gallery for pricing information.