Circa 19th century, hand painted copy of Henry Herman Cross's portrait of Chief Lone Wolf (which hangs in the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa Oklahoma); oil on canvas, appears not signed; craquelure commensurate with age

sight: 16 x 12 in., frame: 22 x 18 in.

Provenance: Property from a home in Fort Worth, Texas

Lone Wolf (d. 1879), or Guipago, was a Kiowa chief and leader of the tribe’s militant faction during the difficult transition from nomadic life to reservations in the 1870s. Trained as a warrior in the elite Tsetanma society, he first gained notoriety through raids, resistance to unfair treaties, and skillful leadership in battles like the attack on Howard’s Wells and the second battle of Adobe Walls. He also acted as a diplomatic delegate, negotiating peace, securing the parole of imprisoned chiefs, and representing his people in Washington. Lone Wolf’s leadership was marked by both courage and tragedy, including the deaths of his son Tau-ankia and nephew Guitan, which fueled further resistance. Eventually, after repeated conflicts with U.S. forces, his band was forced to surrender, and he was imprisoned at Fort Marion, Florida. Lone Wolf died near Fort Sill in 1879 and was buried on Mount Scott in what is now Oklahoma, leaving a legacy of steadfast defense of Kiowa culture and resistance to encroachment on their lands.