Sharitarish (Wicked Chief), Pawnee
Sharitarish, known as the 'Wicked Chief' of the Pawnee, stares out with an intense gaze, his face painted a vivid red to signify war or high status. Charles Bird King, the go-to portraitist for Native American delegates visiting Washington D.C. in the 1820s, captured him wearing a traditional roach headdress and a diplomatic peace medal. It’s a fascinating mix of traditional culture and political diplomacy frozen in time. Sadly, a fire at the Smithsonian in 1865 wiped out most of King's original gallery, so images like this are vital historical survivors.
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