- More
Sitting Bull: A Marvelous Oil Portrait, Painted from Life by H. H. Cross in 1882, and Actually Signed by the Great Chief. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
Sitting Bull: A Marvelous Oil Portrait, Painted from Life by H. H. Cross in 1882, and Actually Signed by the Great Chief. H. H. Cross was one of the best known Western painters of the day. He is believed to have produced some 1000 works, half of which were Western subject matter. Among his familiar subjects: Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Brigham Young, Jim Bridger, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Chief Gall and many other well known figures in Western history. Cody described him as "the greatest painter of Indian portraiture of all times." (Peggy and Harold Samuels, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West, p. 116)The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma has the largest collection of Cross paintings, numbering nearly 100. His depiction of "Buffalo Bill" Cody taking the scalp of Yellow Hand is one of their most popular paintings. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming and the Chicago Historical Society also house a number of his works.
Cross took a particular interest in personalities and events related to the Little Bighorn battle, having been on the scene shortly after the confrontation. He is said to have been the only artist permitted to paint the Sioux leader Sitting Bull from life, and the two became close friends. That acquaintance pre-dates the Little Bighorn massacre; Cross painted Sitting Bull's camp in the Big Horn Mountains in 1873, a work reproduced by Time-Life Books in 1981 as the centerfold of The Threatened World of Sitting Bull. Cross had taken a special interest in the Sioux for many years, having moved to Minnesota in 1862 to paint the Indians sentenced to hang for their role in the infamous Sioux Uprising there.
The Sioux leader was almost certainly Cross's most popular subject. According to a 1912 newspaper account, he painted thirty-three portraits of Sitting Bull. The 1882 example offered here is a marvelous, immediately recognizable image of the great man while he was still close to his prime. He exudes strength and confidence perhaps bordering on arrogance, as well as a hint of the resentment and hostility one might expect in a great leader only recently forced to submit to the white man's world.
The present example is also notable both for the biographical information and date which Cross has neatly printed in the upper right-hand corner, and particularly for the presence of Sitting Bull's familiar autograph painted in the upper left, below which Cross has noted "His own signature". A signed Sitting Bull cabinet photo is a rare prize, but cannot begin to compete with this oil portrait by a significant Western artist and actually signed by the great chief!
Interestingly, it is only because of a fortuitous misunderstanding that this painting remains available for private ownership. Some twenty years ago the owner donated it to a major museum. However, there was confusion: the donor believed that the institution had agreed to his stipulation that the painting must go on permanent public display. However, the museum had a policy of not making such commitments, and so the donation fell through.
Accompanying the painting is an authentication and appraisal by respected authority R.G. "Rudy" Wunderlich. In 1992 he appraised the work at $40,000. The highest price yet attained by a Cross painting at auction is $32,400. However, it is hard to envision a more important example of this artist's work than the one offered here.
The painting itself measures 14.5" x 18.5", 18" x 22" as framed. Condition on this important work is just beautiful. Phrases such as "museum quality" and "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" are often abused in auction descriptions, but in this case they seem right on the mark.
For comparative purposes: An autographed photo of Sitting Bull sold for $29,005 in a May 2012 New York area autograph auction. This was a 4.25" x 6.5" cabinet photo, signed on the reverse (same image as Lot 44126 in this auction).
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)US Coins
Ends on 03/08/2021
Photography
Ends on 03/10/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Fine & Rare Wine
Ends on 03/12/2021
Western & Texas Art
Ends on 03/12/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/13/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/15/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/16/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/17/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/17/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 03/18/2021
Nature & Science
Ends on 03/19/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/21/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/22/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/24/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/25/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 03/25/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/25/2021
Movie Posters
Ends on 03/27/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 04/04/2021
Currency
Ends on 04/04/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/08/2021
Luxury Real Estate
Opens about 01/22/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/12/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/17/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/19/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/18/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 02/24/2021
Musical Instruments
Opens about 03/23/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/22/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/23/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/24/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/18/2021
Sports Collectibles
Opens about 04/01/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/16/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/26/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/31/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/02/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/01/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/02/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/28/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/06/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/08/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/12/2021
Illustration Art
Opens about 04/09/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/09/2021
Entertainment
Opens about 04/12/2021
Luxury Accessories
Opens about 04/12/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 04/02/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/14/2021
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
Heritage Auctions and Mr. Chad Reingold were...professional and courteous in all transactions and provided outstanding service in answering my many emails. I recommend them at the highest level.View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search