American Art Collaborative

“I have given the portraits of two distinguished men, and I believe, both chiefs. The first by the name of Stee-cha-co-me-co (the great king), familiarly called ‘Ben Perryman [see 1985.66.288];’ and the other, Hol-te-mal-te-tez-te-neehk-ee . . . called ‘Sam Perryman.’ These two men are brothers, and are fair specimens of the tribe [Creek/Muskogee], who are mostly clad in calicoes, and other cloths of civilized manufacture; tasselled and fringed off by themselves in the most fantastic way, and sometimes with much true and picturesque taste. They use a vast many beads, and other trinkets, to hang upon their necks, and ornament their moccasins and beautiful belts.” George Catlin created this painting at Fort Gibson, Arkansas Territory, in 1834. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 2, no. 49, 1841; reprint 1973)