Irvin "Shorty" Shope - The Shooting of John Bozeman 22" x 36"

Irvin “Shorty” Shope (American, 1900-1977)
The Shooting of John Bozeman, n.d.

Oil on canvas
Canvas: 22” x 36”
Frame: 26” x 40”

Signed Lower Right: Irvin Shope

John Bozeman stands defiantly in the moments preceding his death as he travelled along the Yellowstone River in 1867. The scene exudes tension and drama as Bozeman’s horse kneels, wounded, while one of his companions falls lifeless only a short distance away. In the midst of this dire situation, though, Bozeman remains resolute and fearless, his rifle poised. The wind blows through the landscape and the fringes of Bozeman’s leather outfit, accentuating the desolation and danger of the American West.

Provenance:
Private Collection, Bozeman, MT.
March in Montana, 36^th Annual March in Montana Auction, March 17, 2023, Lot 604
Private Collection, Utah.