From the beginning, sculpture has been central to the Whitney’s story. The Whitney was founded around one monumental bronze sculpture. And today, its collection of sculpture is broad and deep—a defining strength of the museum’s holdings.
At the north end of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West campus stands a monumental bronze statue of Col. William F. Cody. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a talented New York artist and renowned philanthropist, created this impressive sculpture. In 1922, the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association commissioned Mrs. Whitney to execute the equestrian portrait as a tribute to the famous western hero. The finished sculpture, Buffalo Bill—The Scout, not only commemorated our town’s past and its larger-than-life founder but also heralded Cody’s future as a center for the study and collection of western American art.
Interested in learning more? Stay tuned for information about an exciting upcoming event organized by the Whitney Western Art Museum – a special centennial symposium centered on western sculpture. Mark your calendars for June 17, 2017!
