316 Meeting of the Mountain Chiefs

SOLD
Winning Bid Undisclosed
This item SOLD at 2016 Apr 02 @ 15:57UTC-7 : PDT/MST
Category Art
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 20,000.00 USD
Estimated at 40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Meeting of the Mountain Chiefs
Artist: Beeler, JoeDate of Birth: 1931-2006
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 30 x 48 inches
Signed: Signed lower right/CA
Verso:

Joe Beeler grew up on the Oklahoma border, studied in Kansas and Los Angeles and made his living in commercial art before breaking through in 1960 with a one- man exhibition at the Gilcrease. In 1962, Beeler and his family made a permanent move to Sedona, and three years later, Beeler became one of the founding members of the Cowboy Artists of America. It’s a bit of a guess, but the event Beeler appears to be depicting in Meeting of the Mountain Chiefs is a council of chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Piegan, Blood, and Siksika—as well as representatives of the Flathead, Nez Perce, Shoshone, Cree, and others, held in 1855, when the U.S, Government wanted to establish the Great Blackfeet Reservation. Teepees are closely arrayed at the foot of the hill at right; the full regalia that each chief wears indicates the seriousness of the gathering. The chief standing at left holds the peace pipe in the crook of his right arm and holds up his left hand, a signal to the others that differences between them should be set aside, that they must present a united front to the representatives from Washington. The others listen, patiently waiting their turn. The protocols of delicate diplomacy are at work here.