Council of Chiefs by Howard Terpning

Council of Chiefs by Howard Terpning.

 

Do you have what it takes to sit among the headmen of the Blackfoot? One became a chief of society head in this nation as a result of leadership success or example. Once a chief, one had to hold the best interests of the people at heart. In council, these individual leaders gathered to set the course of the nation. Decisions were reached by consensus, youth acknowledging the wisdom of age and the powers of experience valued over the experience of power.

 

Howard Terpning set out to create Council of Chiefs to impart the importance of visionary leadership. Drawing on research and personal study, he portrays leaders from different warrior societies of the Blackfoot nation meeting in council as they would have appeared in the ealy 1870's. Terpning explains about this work, "The man standing on the far right has painted part of his face and shoulders with vermillion, which was a sacred color and symbolized blood or life. the standing figure on the near right has white dots painted on his back; these represent hailstones falling down to destroy his enemies. His knife scabbard is more of the design that a trapper or mountain man might carry. The warrior on horseback in the foreground is carrying a banner staff lined with eagle feathers. These so-called flags, could be ceremonial in use or employed as a rallying point in battle."

 

Textured Canvas released 2000.