Buffalo Hunt

A. Phimister Proctor, born Bozanquit, Ontario, Canada 1860-died Palo Alto, CA 1950 · modeled 1914-1916, copyrighted 1917

This romantic and retrospective scene was modeled on rodeo champion Jackson Sundown (1863--1923). Sundown had served with his uncle Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (sometimes called Chief Joseph), a leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce, defending their land and people against attacks by the U.S. Calvary. Sundown once escaped after being wounded in battle by adroitly riding off the side of his horse and eluding his pursuers. He made his living breeding and raising horses and riding rodeo, eventually working from a ranch in Idaho where he hosted Alexander Proctor as the sculptor worked on this composition.