Pitätapiú, Assiniboine Man

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

Pitätapiú, Assiniboine Man

Date

June 29, 1833

Dimensions

17 1/16 × 12 in. (43.3 × 30.5 cm)

Medium

Watercolor and graphite on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.254

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

This slender young man, his mane of hair ornamented with two small shells, was a member of the Stone band of the Assiniboin tribe. The objects Pitätapiú carries are those of a proud warrior. In one hand he holds a rawhide shield to which is attached an amulet that assured him success on horse raids. A riding whip with a wooden handle hangs from a fur loop around his opposite wrist. With that hand he supports a long bow-lance tipped with a metal spearhead. Ribbons of soft, cured bear entrails, smeared with red paint, decorate the bow-lance. Maximilian said this weapon was only "for show." Spears and bow-lances figured in the ceremonies of the military societies of many Plains tribes. Pitätapiú was pictured with another Assiniboin man (see Plate 202) in Tableau 32 of the atlas of aquatints. Both individuals were painted at Fort Union in June of 1833.

References in Journal

June 29, 1833

Labels:

portrait

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort Union, North Dakota