Turkey Shooting (Primary Title)
Charles Deas, 1818-1867 American (Artist)
The subject of this painting is taken from the Leatherstocking Tales, a series of novels by James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851). In the first, The Pioneers (published in 1823), Cooper describes a traditional Christmas Day turkey shoot in 1793. Here, Deas interprets the scene, clothing his subjects in the dress of his own time. Deas also omits a number of characters from the scene, most notably “Leatherstocking” himself, Natty Bumppo, who makes the winning shot. Instead, the artist concentrated on the anxiety shown by the freed slave, Abraham Freeborn (“Brom”), who fears that the shooter might hit the turkey and win the contest.
indistinctly signed and dated on the log(?), lower right: "C. DEAS.18__"
inscribed on hat in center: "EE"; inscribed on house at upper right: "CAKES / & / BEER"."
Paul Mellon Collection
"Tales from the Easel: American Narrative Paintings from Southeastern Museums, circa 1800-1950", The Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, GA, February 8 - April 18, 2004; Tampa Museum of Art, April 25 - July 11, 2004; The Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY, September 14 - December 12, 2004; El Paso Museum of Art, January 16 - April 10, 2005
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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