The Wounded Indian, a free standing American sculpture.
35-1/2 inches tall x 59 x 30-1/4 inches wide, located in the.
Chrysler Museum, was purchased by Walter P. Chrysler Jr. during.
his last action as a collector. This life size, marble image.
depicts a dying "noble savage" from Eastern woodlands of a.
young America. The Wounded Indian was created by Peter .
Stevenson in 1848, and carved in 1850 in Boston.
My first response to the sculpture was amazement. The life.
size sculpture of an Indian wounded by an arrow piercing his.
side, carved from marble. The outstanding form of his garment.
draped around his thighs and private area. The details through-.
out the body of the sculpture were impressive to the eye. Being.
able to notice the accurate anatomy, and veins of the body made.
me feel as though a human had been frozen in the moment. Although.
most of the statue is carved in realistic shapes of the body, the.
sculptor has paid particular attention to details in the feet.
and hands. There he attempted to represent realistically the .
details of the human anatomy. The parts of the fingers, and toes, .
for example the nails, joints, separation, and curvature are.
distinct. Both the head and shoulders are slightly hung over; the .
right and left arms originally struck different poses; and the .
left leg and arm are given prominence over the right. The.
versatility of the left side and right side gives the statue both.
individuality and a personality. The slight downward position.
of the head gives the impression that the wounded indian is.
attending to his wounds. The attention to details of the.
arms, legs, head, and shoulder area suggests that the sculptor.
attempted to render a lifelikeness of the Indian himself. The .
suggestion in the statue is one of completed work rather than.
of work in progress. .
Peter Stevenson was known for his portrait cameos, portrait.
busts, and large scale sculptures such as The Wounded Indian.