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The Spirit of Winter

Scope and Content Notes

Leather album page of bronze of a man with wolves. The figure is supposed to be Blackfoot Spirit with wolves. Remarks include, "this is an Indian fable of how winter came about. Winter is called by the Blackfoot Indians 'Cold Maker' and this bronze represents him. In the long ago, an Indian died who had been treated badly by his people. He was buried on a scaffold up in the branches of a Cottonwood. One night the wolves came along and pulled his body down from the tree, but found him too tough to eat as his body had mummified, so they left him. His spirit entered his mummified body and calling the wolves back and the cold North Wind he leads them down to the camp of his people to punish them for the way they treated him when he was alive. The wolves represent hunger and starvation and the wind - cold, sickness and desolation."

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Title(s): 
The Spirit of Winter
Creator(s): 
Charles Marion Russell (Artist)
George D. Sack (Author)
Culture: 
American
Date: 
1926
Materials/Techniques: 
gelatin silver process
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Credit Line: 
Gilcrease Museum/The University of Tulsa
Accession No: 
TU2009.39.8387.35
Previous Number(s): 
E.425; 45746; E.425 (Colorado Springs number)
Department: 
Not On View

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