This glum portrait of Sitting Bull, the famous Sioux chief, was not painted from life. Sitting Bull died in 1890 and although it is possible that Sharp saw Sitting Bull at a Wild West show in the mid-1880s, this is painted in the style of his work around 1910.  A photograph of the great man, probably D. F. Barry’s famous portrait (related image, #26a), must have been the source for this painting. Sharp made a smaller version of this for a patron of his, Dr. Victor Evans of Washington, D.C.  Perhaps Sharp painted this larger version for some potential future sale.

In 1945 Sharp wrote about his Indian portraits that "every one was painted from life at their homes on the reservation or wherever I could contact them.  Sometimes up to hundred and fifty miles by wagon to reach them." He must have forgotten this one. (Sharp Papers)