Description:
Watercolor on paper. Signed l.r.: L. Saupity Stamped, u.r.: PLANCHE 29.
From: American Indian Painters, Vol. 1, pp. 17-18: Larry Saupity is a Commanche. He was born in 1924. Like so many Indians in Oklahoma, he drew and painted ever since he could remember. His worked showed great promise but the war came to our Indians also. He saw much action in France and Germany with the 4th Infantry Signal Corps and was very seriously wounded at the taking of St. Lo. He came back and, in 1947 enrolled in the Art School in the University of Oklahoma. But he had to withdraw, now being complete recovered. He believes that his future art career lies in the white man's world. In this, he may be entirely correct. Larry is a quiet studious boy, industrious and intelligent. He has not been with us very long but his teachers think very highly of his talent. In fact, one of them believes that he is the most talented Indian we have ever had in our art school. It will be interesting to watch and guide his development. "Decorating a Warrior" was painted before World War II. He thinks it is a good example of his work at that time. It shows an old Indian grandmother presenting a war bonnet to a young brave mounted on a splendid black horse. There is a happy contrast between the warrior as he sits in respectful attitude and the bent figure of the old woman. Note how the spear he carries serves as a balance to the composition. Also, how the white nose and feet of the horse carry the same values as the war bonnet and the feathers in the young man's hair; they give accent to a picture that might otherwise be drab in color. (Collection, University of Oklahoma)