ALLEN TUPPER TRUE

Arapaho Sun Dance (Symbolism of the Altar); watercolor, 25.7 x 38.1 cm.

ALLEN TUPPER TRUE
(1881-1955)

Painter and illustrator Allen Tupper True (1881-1955) used the Southwest, as the inspiration for his art. He is well known for his murals in the State Capitols of Wyoming and Missouri, and for sixteen murals for the Colorado National Bank of Denver. True's papers contain project files, sketches by him of Native American artifacts, photographs, and other documents reflecting his desire for historical accuracy and attention to detail. An excerpt of an interview with True from a pamphlet, "Indian Memories," which accompanied the unveiling of his Colorado National Bank murals in 1923, suggests his motivations:

these murals for the Colorado National Bank treat of the Indian only. They essay to recall the days before his contact with the white race—days when his dignity and cruelty, his joy in living, stoic endurance and primitive integrity, as well as beauty of superstition and religious belief, made the cycle of his life an epic which never has been properly sensed or understood by the Whites.

DOCUMENTS FROM TRUE'S COLORADO NATIONAL BANK PROJECT FILE

Pamphlet cover, Indian Memories, 1923, distributed at the unveiling of True's murals at the Colorado National Bank. 14.6 x 16.8 cm.

Pages from Indian Memories, describing the "Youth" murals: "The series begins with a group Youth on the east wall directly over the main entrance. Several young boys are gathered around a crane which one of them has brought in as his trophy from a hunt. From a canoe, another boy is unloading other birds of rich plummage, and two other boys are emerging from deep, cool waters into the sunlight to join the chorus that is acclaiming the success of the hunt. In the middle foreground is the Sioux sun symbol."

TRUE'S WATERCOLOR SKETCHES OF DESIGNS TAKEN FROM NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS IN THE MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO


Crow War Sheild and Cover; watercolor, 14.6 x 16.8 cm.	Cheyenne costume; watercolor, 25.7 x 38 cm.

Blackfoot Leggings and Moccasins; watercolor, 25.7 x 38 cm.	Dakota Sioux Costume	Kiowa Papooses

TRUE'S WATERCOLOR SKETCHES OF NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY DESIGNS

PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATIVE AMERICAN S USED BY TRUE FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES

Found in True's papers are photographs of Native American Indians used for reference purposes and as source material for his art work.


Chief Jack Red Cloud	Nez-Perce Ta-ma-son or Unthony.