Painted Robe for Powder and Ball - trading at Musselshell Valley by Z.S. Liang

Painted Robe for Powder and Ball - trading at Musselshell Valley by Z.S. Liang available from Prickly Pear Galleries.

White men drawn to the frontier were quick studies and adept survivors. The man holding the robe runs this Musselshell Valley trading post. He negotiates with the few words of Blackfeet he speaks and sign language. He has also surrounded himself with other fundamental tools of negotiation for this part of the world. Next to him stands a large and robust woodsman whose physical power could be crucial in this dangerous environment. Sitting on the wooden barrow is a well experienced hunter. In his arm, a loaded gun and a pistol in his belt are ready for any sudden threat.

"Painted Robe for Powder and Ball, Musselshell Valley, (Montana), 1840" was unveiled at the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction in 2009. The enormous painting (42" x 64") was the talk of the show and sold for $345,000.00!

Released October 2011.