Lot 531: Glenna Goodacre Bronze, Spotted Tail Goes to Washington

Glenna Goodacre (American, 1939-2020), “Spotted Tail Goes to Washington,” bronze, 1999, signed “G. Goodacre 1999″ and numbered 3/50, depicting the Native American chief Spotted Tail, standing with feather atop his head and holding a top hat. Mounted on a polished black stone base. Dimensions only (including base) – 21 1/2″H x 8” W x 6″D. Height of bronze only – 19″H. Artist Biography: Glenna Goodacre was best known for her bronze sculptures depicting children and Native Americans. Born in Texas, she graduated from Colorado College, and then studied at the Art Students League in New York. She resided in Santa Fe, New Mexico from 1983. Goodacre won numerous awards including awards from the National Sculpture Society, Allied Artists of America and the National Academy of Design. In 1993, she was awarded the Knickerkbocker Artists’ Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement in American Art. Her most celebrated commissions include the women’s memorial in Washington D.C. commemorating the women who served in the Vietnam War, and a 7 ft. statue of President Ronald Reagan for the Reagan Library in Southern California. Note: Spotted Tail (1833-1881) was chief of the Brule Teton Indians and briefly, the Oglala Sioux. Although he won his chieftanship based on his prowess as a warrior, he became known for seeking compromise, especially with white settlers. He was regarded as hero by his tribe when, in 1855, he and two other warriors surrendered to white authorities and accepted a two year prison term to prevent punishment of the tribe in the wake of an attack on a military detachment. In 1868 Spotted Tail signed a treaty limiting his people to a reservation in South Dakota and conceding the rights for a railroad to be built on Indian land. When gold was discovered in the Black Hills, Spotted Tail attempted to negotiate sale of the mineral rights to the U.S. government. But his price was too high, and U.S. officials allowed miners to seek gold in the Black Hills without compensation to the Sioux. Recognizing the futility of resistance, Spotted Tail refused to go on the warpath even when prospectors swarmed over Indian lands. He kept his followers out of the conflicts of 1876 – including Little Big Horn – and helped persuade Crazy Horse to surrender in 1877. Spotted Tail assumed leadership of the Oglala as well as the Brule Teton Sioux when Red Cloud was deposed in 1881. Shortly thereafter he was assassinated as he left a council meeting by a fellow tribesman. Source: Encyclopaedia Brittanica.

CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Some minor debris in crevices which we have not attempted to clean. A few tiny nicks and scratches to stone base.