While in New York for a Wild West show in 1903, Black Bird was first sculpted by the artist for his monumental Destiny of the Red Man made for the 1904 Saint Louis World’s Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition). This complex work included 10 human figures and three animals and brought Weinman his first national recognition as a sculptor. But, the massive sculpture, only a temporary creation of plaster and wood shavings called “staff”, was destroyed after the fair. This portrait bust was adapted from the full length figure of Black Bird in the monumental work. Fifteen casts were made at the Roman Bronze Works between 1909 and 1917.

From the exhibition:Frontier to Foundry: the Making of Small Bronze Sculpture in the Gilcrease Collection, December 2014 - March 2015.
Ann Boulton Young, Associate Conservator for the Gilcrease Museum, 2014.