The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-08
Painting Painted Indians

i
cago has in E. A. Burbank an artist who
is il a fair way to have his name enrolled
in history as one of the foremost painters
OF the American Indian. Mr.. Burbank has
just returned from Fort Sin, Oklahoma Ter
rirory. where he spent several months paint
ing the Kiowa, Cornanche and Apache In
dams. While at Fort Sill Mr. Burbank en-
| 1oyed the hospitality of the post. and he
l occupied quarters with Captain Hoyle Lieu
| tenant Heron and Lieutenant Charles, for
1 merly of Chicago. Mr.. Burbank painted
| his sitters under singular advantageous cir
| cumstances, and like all true-spirited men
| who have studied the Indians, he became
! their friend and admirer. The friendship
was mutual and they christened him big
Medicine Man." and he became known also
by a gesture dedicated to him in the sign
| language. Furthermore, invitations were
| extended to him by his red men friends to
| attend the muscatel dance and feast, which
! is an expression Of favor,tism.
| When the Chicago artist arrived in Fort
| Sill Captain H. L. Scott. who practically
has the Indians in charge, was in Texas at
| a cattle convention looking after their grass
| tax interests, and It was thought best that
Mr.. Burbank should not make an effort to
procure models until his return. Captain
| Scott. 1t will be remembered. lectured here
on the Sign Language" during the world s
| fair. On his return TO the post thirteen of
| the chiefs, among them White Wolf, Poor
Buffalo, Looking Glass, and the famous
enemy of the white man, Geronimo. called
| upon the captain to ask him the result OF
his tr:p-Geronimo. by the by, was not de-
serving of place in this body. as he is a
| prisoner Of war and has no voice in civic
i m Nv Rlrrf, nj
present at the conference, which Lasted
| three hours. during which time each chief
delivered the same address and asked the
| same question of their loyal friend.
Whenever the Indians in the Oklahoma
section wish to speak in their own behalf
to government officials regarding their land
claims it is Captain Scott who takes them
| to Washington, and upon several occasions
| their eloquence has won for them AT least
1 temporary victory. An amusing anecdote
| is told of band Of them who recently left
1 their home on the plains for the first time
| TO travel to the capitol. They determined TO
| count the white people they saw between
destina tons, which became so irksome that
| they abandoned the plan, and enumerated
| houses. but that task became irksome: their
| last venture was cities; failing in that, in a
| congested and bewildered state Of mind
| they resigned themselves to abstract sight
| seeing.
| Through the influence OF Captain Scott
| and other officers Mr.. Burbank found IL an
easy task to procure models. With but few
exceptions the Indians live in the shelter of
| the mountains ten or more miles distant,
which made It necessary for them to cast
| their tepees near the artists temporary
studio. Geronimo however. was painted
1 IN his own home. Nineteen oils are the re-
suit of Mr.. Burbank's stay at Fort sill.
| The collection will be placed on exhibition
] at Thuiber's art gallery tomorrow. 1t must
| not be thought for a moment that these
people Of the plains and mountains sat for
| their portraits without remuneration. Many
professional model has posed for less.
All were PAID at least e a day, and num-
| Der demanded s. for their services. Artists
| have found it difficult to get Geronimo to
pose. II. L. Farney made the attempt,
] but he as failed to state that he was big
| chief" Geronimo refused to have a man
without rank paint his portrait. Among
all of Mr.. Rurbank's works perhaps greater
historical interest will be found in two like
nesses Of the ancient Apach chief. Geronimo
| who is supposed TO have killed outright and
| to have caused the death of more white
men than any other Indian now alive, and a
more difficult prisoner was never captured
Geronimo was not the hereditary chief. In
| fact. he usurped the right, and won devoted
| followers by his savage bravery.
Geronimo is presented both in profile and
full face, with his scarlet blanket wound
around him and his bright red bandeau
tied about his forehead, exposing his short
blue-black hair in the neck and on the
crown of his head. His bronze skin is fur
rowed, and his keen, cruel eyes have lost
| much of their lu,re; his thin. determined
mouth is deep set and drawn down at the
corners. Both are strong portraits, but
the one in profile is a masterpiece of char
acterization. 1t suggests in contour one OF
the portraits of Napoleon. The verilty
and robustness Of these stalwart subjects
seem TO have loosened Mr.. Burbank's brush.
His touch is lighter, happier and more spon-
taneous. The work IS less microscopic,
and yet II is not wanting in completeness.
He has for most part been quite success
full In his backgrounds which are naturally
difficult problems to solve. as we always
think of the India in the open, surrounded
only by natures environments. The back
grounds in low keys are the most satisfac-
tory. Added interest is given many OF the
pictures DN t0e VI tHe
printed in little stifY letters In one corner.
Christian Naiche. the rightful hereditary
chief, who fought side by side with Geroni-
mo. and apparently bore him no malice. Is
fine, k.nd-looking man. and he is painted
in various attitudes Young Indian maid
ems require a chaperon as well as their
white sisters. At least the girls chaperon
one another Mr.. Burbank was fortunate
in having two attractive young girls as
models They came together from quite a
distance and spent the entire day. One
posed in the morning, the other in the
afternoon. They wore their very best
clothes and their faces were decorated in
the most up-to-date designs and colors.
While sitting they chanted tunefully soft.
low melodies il their native tongue chiefly
sacred songs. The handsomer g:rl OF the
two. Gi-Aum-E Hon-O-Me, spoke quite
little English. and she was able 70 translate
the simple words OF the songs. The most
pleasing picture exhibited. both in subject.
technic and color, is found in the portrait
Of GI-Aum-E wrapped in gray and black
Blanket, her red cheeks furnishing bright
notes of color 10 the canvas. which Is other
wise painted in low. musical key.
Mr. Burbank found the girls Tot only ex-
ce!lent models but they were as well COM
municative. and asked questions about The
great distant cities. One observed that sAe
would Ike TO see Chicago. heap big city.
light az night like day, heap many candles
everywhere" The mos, elaborate costume
seen In this collection is worn by Ton-Hsd-
Die The leather skirt Is painted with band.
of blue. green and scarlet From the banis
hang rows Of fringe composed Of horseha.r
dyed yellow. The shoulders and sleeves o.
the JACKIE, are studded with elk's teeth
The collar IS quite modern. as l. also the
Nj. which is hung with bead pouches an