Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952)
View Artist Biography
Title:
Spotted Elk - Brule
Date:
1907
Size:
Volume, 12.5 x 9.5 inches
Medium:
Vintage Photogravure
First war-party at seventeen. It was said of him, as of any able-bodied male who waited so long before engaging in war that "he slept too long." At the first night's camp, to try his strength of heart, he was sent back to the starting point (the party traveled afoot) to bring water; he returned at daybreak with a buffalo-paunch full of water. He took an active part in the battle and was shot through the leg. Five Apsaroke scalps were taken, and four Sioux wounded.
At twenty-one Spotted Elk headed a party of twenty-five, met two Apsaroke at the mouth of the Musselshell, and took their scalps. He led six other parties against Assiniboin, Hidatsa, Mandan, Apsaroke, and Arikara. Five of these fights resulted in one to ten enemies slain, seventeen in all, and in four no Lakota’s were lost. He took part in forty-seven battles, acquired eleven honors, five of them "kill right," was wounded five times, and captured horses eight times. He fasted on six occasions, once four days and four nights, when he "almost died of hunger," twice two days, thrice a day and a night. One of these fasts was in winter. In his visions came Elk, Bear, Fox, Gray Wolf, and Hawk. Elk helped him most of all. Both Elk and Bear correctly foretold his success in war. All these vision creatures showed him certain roots to be used for disease or wounds, and he used them both for himself and others. He participated three times in the Sun Dance, on one occasion being the principal dancer; twice the skewers were passed under the muscles of his arms, once through those of his back. He once saw his half-brother, Rain In The Face, actually suspended by the muscles of his back and shoulders. He succeeded his father, Burned Shaver, as a chief of the Hunkpapa.
Provenance:
Art Institute of Chicago, Ryerson & Burnham Library
At twenty-one Spotted Elk headed a party of twenty-five, met two Apsaroke at the mouth of the Musselshell, and took their scalps. He led six other parties against Assiniboin, Hidatsa, Mandan, Apsaroke, and Arikara. Five of these fights resulted in one to ten enemies slain, seventeen in all, and in four no Lakota’s were lost. He took part in forty-seven battles, acquired eleven honors, five of them "kill right," was wounded five times, and captured horses eight times. He fasted on six occasions, once four days and four nights, when he "almost died of hunger," twice two days, thrice a day and a night. One of these fasts was in winter. In his visions came Elk, Bear, Fox, Gray Wolf, and Hawk. Elk helped him most of all. Both Elk and Bear correctly foretold his success in war. All these vision creatures showed him certain roots to be used for disease or wounds, and he used them both for himself and others. He participated three times in the Sun Dance, on one occasion being the principal dancer; twice the skewers were passed under the muscles of his arms, once through those of his back. He once saw his half-brother, Rain In The Face, actually suspended by the muscles of his back and shoulders. He succeeded his father, Burned Shaver, as a chief of the Hunkpapa.
Provenance:
Art Institute of Chicago, Ryerson & Burnham Library