Art historian Peter H. Hassrick wrote, “Typically, the Sharps made a point to return to Montana by October, especially after Crow Fair, an agricultural celebration, was inaugurated in 1904. ‘I’ll be busy every daylight hour,’ Sharp wrote, ‘& up half the night at dances for next 10 days, as Indians are coming in fast for the big camp & fair next week.’

“The Indians set up tipis along the banks of the Little Big Horn River about half a mile from the agency and Sharp’s cabin. That was where Sharp habitually kept himself in October in order to capture traditional Indian life as Indians from other agencies came together. Many of them dressed in traditional clothing for the festivities, including dances and races. The Indians would parade across the ford and wind through the agency in their finery.”

As a prolific collector and artist Sharp amassed many Native American relics, but as Hassrick recalled, “He would tell his friend [Joseph G.] Butler in 1925 that, regarding his artifact collection, he had sold most of his ‘surplus things, keeping all I need to work from and a few house decorations.’ He explained that his studio had been ‘burglarized several times while away in winter,’ so he cut back to just the essentials. Among the artifacts that Sharp retained was a Sioux warbonnet he had purchased from a Crow man who had collected it following the Battle of the Little Big Horn.”

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Texas, ca. 1960
Present owner, by descent

Additional Resources

• Joseph Henry Sharp’s Past Results
• View Condition Report

Condition ReportSurface is in good condition. Faint bar marks on top and sides. Several specks of inpainting at edges of frame. Spot of inpainting on bottom of drum. Two thin lines of inpainting on arms of Indian on the left side of painting.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders; such statements are educated opinions and should not be regarded as facts. The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has no responsibility for any errors or omissions.