Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-03
THE LAST OF THE BUFFALO.
BierstadPs Great Painting on Exhibi-
tion ut the Corcoran Art Gallery.

| ZION NJ the Corcoran Art GALLERY.
Through the efforts of some of his enthusiss.
tic admirers in Washington, Mr.. Albert Bier
stads. Ma, the American painter, with many
foreign decorations. has been induced to send
his great buffalo hunt picture to the Corcorar
Art Gallery TO be exhibited for q short time.
Even before the painting was sent to the Paris
exposition, last year. the artist was approached
bya well-known Washingtonian with an earnes,
request that after its return from Paris the
| lovers Of art in Washington should be given an
opportunity to see it. As the result of this and
similar requests the painting has just been
placed on exhibition here. The picture has
already been sold (for $50 0O0) and published
| In France, and will be delivered to tho owner
| at the close Of its exhibition here
| In the west room of the Corcoran Gallery,
supported on huge exhibition pedestal,
stands what may fifty be characterized as a
pictorial monument to the memory Of the
great American bison. 1t is q magnificent
painting OF grand subject by a great artist,
! all so characteristically and purely American
as to appeal to the national pride of every
\ American. Berstadt il one OF the very few
American artists who glories in American sub
| lects. both on land and sea, animate as well as
| lnanimate. and this picture is not only his
| latest work. but also one OF his very best Its
title is
| Tx LAST OF TIKI BUFFALO,,
and itrepresents typical scene in the closing
chapter Of the American bison's life history
The landscape represented is the picturesque
valley of the Sweet Water river, in western
! wyoming. where it flows eastward out OF the
Wind River mountains. Miles and miles away
/ up the narrow valley the rugged snow-clad
peaks OF that range rise high against the cool,
| gray sky and bound the view. Eight miles
| away on the left a bit of ''bench land rises
1 abruptiy at al0 IF fhn and a4obo
| away toward the south indefinitely, backed up
| IN the distance by rugged ridge OF mountains.
The steepiy sloping side of lofty level plateau,
| or mesa, forms the right background. Down
| from the foot OF the snow-capped range in the
distance comes the narrow level valley OF the
| Sweet Water, through which the clear and icy-
cold mountain stream winds its serpentine
| way. Here and there along the low level banks
are scattered clumps of bushes and small treos,
Just taking on the tlnts Of autumn.
The landscape itself makes a superb picture.
/ and it is to be doubted whether the artist ever
produced a better one OF American mountain
scenery. III it has fault it lies in a hazy
cloudiness Of the atmosphere, an effect by the
| way, which Mr.. Bierstsdt now and then par
| ticularly strives for in a mountain landscape
During the autumn months in the Rocky noun.
| tain region the cloudy atmosphere IL the ex-
| ception and extreme atmospheric clearness il
the rule.
THE REAL PICTURE.
| But this magnificent landscape is only the
| setting for the real picture. Sweeping down
from the high mesa on the right comes dark
| throng Of buffaioes. living torrent two miles
wide. As far back the eye can reach
through the clouds of dust raised by their
| hoofs they are pouring down the long steep
hillside. wading the stream and swarminR
| across the level valley to disappear in the dis
lance on the left The throng is moving for
ward in long lines, in compact masses or in
| platoons with here and there a bit Of vacant
| ground between.
| What in seen is evidently q small section of
4 an immense herd that has been passing our
| point of view for an hour or more How do
we know? BY the fact that in the immediate
| foreground lies the dead body of a COW that
/ was killed an hour ago, two wounded bulls and
| q disabled Indian lying beside his horse both
| OF whom have evidently come to grief in
chase over this ground before our arrival upon
| the scene. Out of the extreme right fore
ground band Of Indian hunters on horse back
comes sweeping down upon the herd like an
avalanche. weapons in hand, Staying and to slay
| Their leader forms the central figure of the
entire picture. The savage is mounted on a
superb white horse and has been met in full
career by the Infatuated charge of an old bull
buffalo. Maddened by the pain of the two
arrows that have pierced his vitals the huge
beast has suddenly turned upon his pursuer
with one mad rush has caught the Indians
horse upon his horns and is in the act of over.
throwing both horse and rider. The savage is
driving his lance into the vitals of the buffalo
bat the mischief is already done, and in another
instant horse and rider will be rolling in the
| dust
Of to the left stands wounded bull. totter
ing and about to fall, but he gazes with evident
satisfaction upon the overthrow OF his SLAYER
All the bufsloes are wonderfully lifelike and
| In form, action, treatment of hair and the
| minor anatomical details stand forth as the
evident result OF long and careful studies from
| life.
Still farther away in the same direction
pair Of prong-horn antelope are scurrying
| away and down by the river two pairs OF wide
branching antlers attract attention to the pres
ence of a bank Of elk in the melee. In the i'm
mediate foreground several prairie dog holes
and solitary but ever inquisitive dog" repre-
sent another very familiar feature Of the great
west. while the bleaching skulls and bones OF
buHaloes tell the reader OF such signs that this
spot has long been favorite buffalo hunting
ground.
Let no one object to this picture because of
the tragic elements contained in its compost
ton, for any representation of the fate of the
buffalo millions would not be historically cor
rect without them The destruction Of this
great species was bloody. thrilling tragedy,
characterized by just such excitement and
scenes OF violence as are represented Mr..
Bierstadts canvas with absolute fidelity to
truth. Such collisions as the one SO graphic
ally represented by the two commanding fg-
ures were of common occurrence In the DAYS of
the chase on horseback. One writer-Mr.
Alexander Ross-thus describes the casualties
of Il hunt which he witnessed: 'Twenty-three
horses and riders were at one moment all
sprawiing on the ground; one horse, gored by
q bull was killed on the spot: two more were
disabled by the fall; one rider broke his
shoulder blade, and another burst his gun and
lost three fingers by the accident
THE CHASE OF THE BUFFALO,
| as shown by Mr.. Bierstadt, represents the yer
essence Of the spirit of the wild west" II
| has the vim and 'go" Of that stalwart region.
and As you gaze upon it you feel in your lungs
the crisp, cool October breeze from the distant
Wind River mountains OF this great work.
which must be seen to be appreciated, Mr.. E.
c. -Steadman, the poet. has written as follows:
"fhe weli-known characteristics of Mr. Bier
stadts art through which he has gained his
fame at home and abroad, are seen ON this
large canvas in their prime and freest scope
We have his fidelity to nature in her most
glorious baunts and moods, his unedualed
knowledge of the west Of its inanimats
grandeur. its natural history and animal life.
The picture is notable for breadth of tres
vigorous yet careful painting, imaginative
light, color and harmonic tone. II il not only
a work that appeals to the universal world OF
art. but one conveying a unique spectacle of
the wild west" in which no loyal American
can fail to take national pride. He welcomes
its enduring record and preservation upon
Bierstadts historic canvas. knowing that
scene like this can never again be witnessed in
| real life w. T. H.
Why DpS'r Won occupy A mart of your leisure