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Buffalo Chase, Bulls Making Battle with Men and Horses

Object Details

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“The buffalo is a very timid animal, and shuns the vicinity of man with the keenest sagacity; yet, when overtaken, and harassed or wounded, turns upon its assailants with the utmost fury, who have only to seek safety in flight. In their desperate resistance the finest horses are often destroyed; but the Indian, with his superior sagacity and dexterity, generally finds some effective mode of escape.” George Catlin sketched this image on the Upper Missouri in 1832. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 1, no. 31, 1841; reprint 1973)
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist
George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872
Date
1832-1833
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
24 x 29 in. (60.9 x 73.7 cm)
Type
Painting
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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