Image: Little Crow by Frank Blackwell Mayer

Description: In 1851, artist Frank Blackwell Mayer drew a portrait of Little Crow when he traveled to Traverse des Sioux in Minnesota Territory. Dakota Chief Ta-oya-te-duta, known in English as Little Crow, sketched at Traverse des Sioux, Minnesota Territory The artist describes Little Crow as follows: The chief [Little Crow] is a man of some forty five years of age & of a very determined and ambitious nature, but withal exceedingly gentle and dignified in his deportment. His face is full of intelligence when he is in conversation & his whole bearing is that of a gentleman. [1] [B]eing attired in state[, Little Crow] fulfilled his promise to me by sitting for his portrait. His headdress was peculiarly rich, a . . . diadem of rich work rested on his forehead & a profusion of weasel tails fell from this to his back & shoulders. Two small buffalo horns emerged on either side from this mass of whiteness, & ribbons & a singular ornament of strings of buckskin tied in knots & colored gaily depended in numbers from his head to his shoulders & chest. [2]
Title: Little Crow by Frank Blackwell Mayer
Credit: "Frank B. Mayer collection of sketchbooks, drawings, and oil paintings of Sioux Indians during the 1851 treaty negotiations at Traverse des Sioux and Mendota, Minn., 1851-1886," - Carli Digital Collections - https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/nby_eeayer/id/2560/
Author: Frank Blackwell Mayer (1827-1899)
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No