Frederic Remington (1861-1909)

Also known as 'The Triumph,' Frederic Remington's fourth bronze, 'The Scalp,' is the artist's first sculptural depiction of a Native American subject. In the present work, Remington has rendered a Sioux warrior in a dignified and victorious pose, heroically placed atop a horse that is in mid-stride, coming to an energetic halt. Commenting on 'The Scalp' specifically, R.W. Gilder, editor of The Century wrote to Remington in 1906 that he, "went the other day to see those ripping bronzes of yours. They are all thoroughly alive and thoroughly original. There was one that impressed me especially, as it had more beauty than some of the others, though they all have the beauty of life. I mean the solitary Indian with his arm up, apparently shouting defiance...You seem to sum up the wildman's attitude in that one gesture; and the horse in that is especially fine." (as quoted in B.W. Dippie, The Frederic Remington Art Museum Collection, Ogdensburg, New York, 2001, pp. 151-52) Only eleven sand castings of The Scalp were completed by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co. before Remington chose to use Roman Bronze Works. Once Remington switched to the lost wax casting method with the new foundry, he was able to vary the details in each cast. The present sculpture is one of fourteen examples of 'The Scalp' cast by Roman Bronze Works.