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Thunderpipe And The Holy Man - Medicine Man By Howard Terpning

Thunderpipe and the Holy Man by Howard Terpning

"Each spring, after they've heard the first clap of thunder, the Blackfeet open the sacred thunder pipe bundle in the ‘Thunder Pipe Ceremony.’ It is a ritual that lasts all day, with many prayers and blessing to the people. In this scene, the holy man walks and chants with the thunder pipe and the holy woman, his wife, stands behind him. In reality, she would not be behind him, but because of her importance in the ceremony, I felt that she should be included in the composition.” ~ Howard Terpning

Blackfeet legend says the thunder medicine pipe was a gift from Thunder, who instructed that it be well protected and brought out each spring shortly after the first roll of thunder was heard. The respected medicine man entrusted with keeping it was required to perform a ritual dance in front of his lodge where Thunder could see and thereafter shield the people from lightning's fury. The pipe was used in oath-taking, much as the Bible is used for pledging truth in white men's court. The Blackfeet believed that a man who lied after swearing upon the medicine pipe was doomed to die.

Terpning witnessed the ceremonial unwrapping of a thunder pipe at a ceremonial campground south of Browning, Montana. He reproduced in his painting the striking effect as the medicine man strode past, the hot sunlight from a tepee smoke flap passing across his face and body. The elderly woman was a participant in the indoor part of the ceremony. (The art of Howard Terpning - Elmer Kelton). Print published in 1986.

Thunderpipe and the Holy Man - Medicine Man by Howard Terpning was published in June of 1986 and is for sale as a signed and numbered limited edition print with a 31 x 23 vertical image size priced for sale at $___ unframed.

We are a full service custom frame shop and can build a design to meet any style or budget. Order yours today. All artwork is professionally boxed and insured and guaranteed to arrive in mint condition. All artwork has been hand signed by the artist.

If your interested in framing please send us an email to discuss the options. If you type the name FRAME on the search box above you can browse through some examples of our materials and designs. A painting by Western Artist Howard Terpning painted a First People, Blackfoot Indian medicine man in his lodge with his wife and a pipe high quality western fine in art prints for sale.

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