Photographs
Chiefs Sitting Bull, Gall, and Rain-In-The-Face Rare Composite Native American Sioux Photograph by David Barry
c. 1890, Western Photographer David F. Barry, Original 9.25" x 7" Composite Portrait Silver Gelatin Photograph of Native American Sioux Chiefs Sitting Bull, Gall, and Rain-In-The-Face, who led the Lakota Sioux at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Choice Extremely Fine.
Original 1890s Composite Portrait Photograph of; Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux Chiefs and War Leaders Tatanka Iyotake (Sitting Bull), Iromagaja (Rain-In-The-Face) and Phizi (Chief Gall) who's images were taken by the iconic Western Photographer D. F. Barry. This "Art Photo" style Silver Gelatin Photo measures about 9.25" x 7" and carries the Embossed, blind stamped mark of the famous Dakota Territory and Wisconsin photographer David F. Barry. Barry's mark is also embossed in the negative "Copyright By - D. F. Barry."
Pictured are the three Sioux Warrior Chiefs who led the Lakota Sioux at the Battle of the Little Bighorn which resulted in the death of George Armstrong Custer and his entire division of the 7th U. S. Cavalry. The three bust portraits are among the most historic portraits of these larger than life Sioux War Leaders taken by David F. Barry. Here, Barry has brought the three portraits together depicting the three proud Warriors side by side against a soft background. This important Composite Portrait Photo with Sitting Bull is clean and crisp and very well preserved. The Photograph exhibits a soft focus (as made), yet strong in contrast and having rich warm tonality.
The photographer, David Frances Barry was born near Rochester, New York on March 6, 1854. His family moved west in 1861 to Wisconsin. Around 1870 Barry worked carrying water for an itinerant photographer named O.S. Goff, a relationship that was to be reestablished a few years later.
Not much is known of Barry's life from 1870 until Goff hired him in 1878 to help him in his gallery in Bismarck, Dakota Territory. Here, Barry learned the finer points of photography and became Goff's apprentice, business partner, and employee.
Between 1878 and 1883, Barry traveled to Fort Buford, Fort Yates, and other forts in the Dakota Territory. He went as far north as Fort Assinnaboine in Montana. For these trips he used a portable photographic studio in which he took most of his portraits. He photographed famous Native American chiefs, warriors, scouts, and women including Sitting Bull, Rain in the Face, Gall, Red Cloud, and Shooting Star.
Barry also photographed some of the most important forts and battlefields of the Plains Wars, military officers including General George A. Crook, soldiers, trappers, and pioneers. In 1883 Barry returned to Bismarck where he operated a studio and gallery. He established a friendship with Buffalo Bill Cody and photographed members of his Wild West Show. This photo was likely taken at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation or at Barry's Studio sometime around 1883.