In the late 1930s, Sharp wrote this note to Frank Phillips about this portrait of aa Blackfeet man: "Medicine man; spiritual and political advisor with a character of great beauty. Broad minded and progressive and worked hard with his people for advancement. Cooperated with the Government to get the Indians to raise good stock instead of scrub. A drawback of all Indian tribes I have known was their hesitation and reluctance to improve their mode of living." (Woolaroc archives)

Another portrait of this Blackfeet sub-chief can be seen in #469.

The dating is determined because of the signature style which is related to works after 1902.

Chief Marrow Bones

Record ID: 551

Date: ca. 1903-1905

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 12 x 18 in.

Signature / Inscription: LL: J.H.SHARP.

Owner: Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville, OK

Accession Number: GRA-77

Provenance:

The artist; Frank Phillips, Bartlesville, OK, 1939; present owner, 1939

Created concurrently with Peter Hassrick's 2018 Whitney West publication The Life & Art of Joseph Henry Sharp, this online catalogue highlights more than 700 works by J.H. Sharp that are held in public collections.

Chief Marrow Bones

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