Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-06-17
LEIGH WESTERN
PAINTINGS SHOWN
CLUSTERS LAST FIGHT PROM
INENT IN DISPLAY BEING Ex-
HIBTTED IN NEW YORK
Author and Artist Familiar with West
Is Also an Authority on African
Hinteriands which He Visited with
Two Explorers.

Two plumbers which caused the
downfall of General Clusters heroic
little army at the hands of the
Sioux are said to be revealed in
a painting now on exhibition at
the Grand Central Gallery in New
York. "Custer's Last Fight" a
subject which has long been a
favorite among artists of the pio-
neer west, is a dynamic canvas
prominently displayed at the ex-
hibition of the works of William Rob-
inson Leigh, noted artist and author
whose paintings Of the west and Of
Africa are featured by museums for
their historical value.
Leigh's painting revealed that the
hopelessly outnumbered Custer contin-
gent attempted to hold off the attack
ing Sioux with single shot breech
loading rifles while the Indians were
equipped with repeating rifles.
The real error, according to Leigh,
who has spent many years in the west,
was Clusters miStrlst of Jim Bridger,
an army scout long familiar with the
Sioux camps. Bridger had escaped
from an Indian camp and revealed to
5000 warriors. Custer doubted this re-
port, divided his army into three sec
tions and led the first of them to de-
struction against the Indians.
Indians Surprised, Too
According to Leigh, the Sioux war
riors didn't know that the Custer con-
tingent was in the vicinity. Plans for
the battle that followed were made
less than two hours before the firing
began.
Clusters Last Fight" is one Of the
10 western subjects included in the
Leigh exhibition which numbers %
paintings in all and represents his
first "one-man" show since 1928. AS
a member of the Carl Akeley expedt-
ton and also of the later Carlisle
Clark expedition to Africa, he collect
ed voluminous material for the habitat
groups Of the Akeley African hall in
New York's Museum of Natural His
tory Leigh spent three years painting
the backgrounds IN the African han.
The west of Remington and Russell
lives more wildly than ever IN the
work of Leigh who more than 80 years
ago made his first visits to New Mex |
leo and Arizona where he began his |
studies of the Indians, cowboys and |
the early west which he has so strong |
ly recreated in his canvaSSeS. His |
Navajo Pony" q replica of which Is |
included In the present exhibition, was |
acquired by the duke of Windsor when /
he was Stil the prince Of Wales and /
heir to the British throne. Two others,
the stampede" and the "Hopi Boom
are in the Huntington museum |
and others of his works are IN the
N. j., museum, the HeckScher
foundation and in many private col
lections.
Born In West Virginia
Leigh is a native of West Virginia
and was educated both in the United
States and abroad. Not content with
a prolific art career, he has written
several books, short stories and plays.
Clipped Wings" play, was published
in 1881 and two years later, In 1888,
he completed THE Western Pony" Il
Illustrated by himself. 1t was selected
by the American Institute of Graphic
Arts as one of the so best books of
the year.
His latest book, Frontiers OF En-
is an account Of his adj
ventures in Africa with the Akeley
and the Carlisle Clark expeditions and
has been acclaimed from coast to coast.
1t is already being published in Eng
land and translation Is being pre-
pared for publication in Sweden as
well. 1t was during the second Of
these visits to the dark continent"
that he was accompanied by his wife,
Ethel Traphagen, artist, writer and
lecturer on costume design and illus
tration, and founder Of the Traphagen
School of Fashion in New York.
Eagly visitors to New Yorks worlds
fair will be able to see the Leigh col
lection during its present exhibition
at the Grand Central GaIlerys Fifth
avenue saloon. Later the pictures win
be moved to the Gallery's Vanderbilt
avenue HEADQUARTERS.