Mexkehme-Sukahs, Piegan Blackfeet Chief

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Mexkehme-Sukahs, Piegan Blackfeet Chief

Date

August 12, 1833

Dimensions

12 1/2 × 10 1/8 in. (31.8 × 25.7 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.284

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

Maximilian referred to Mexkehme-Sukahs ("Iron Shirt") as the most distinguished of the several chiefs who gathered to greet the arrival of the keelboat party on August 9 at Fort McKenzie. At that time he was wearing a lace-trimmed scarlet uniform obtained from British traders as a gift. Mexkehme-Sukahs gave this to the Fort McKenzie superintendent in the hopes of getting an even more resplendent outfit from the Americans. When he posed for a portrait two days later, he wore a hide shirt decorated with otter fur, beadwork, and metal trade buttons. Affixed to his hair are feathers, a bear claw, and what appears to be a small ermine with blue beads for eyes. The portrait was reproduced in Tableau 45 of the aquatint atlas.

References in Journal

August 9, 1833

Labels:

genre, portrait

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort McKenzie, Montana