Burial of a Papoose

Art Historical Context

Richard Norris Brooke's *Burial of a Papoose*, an undated drawing from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, poignantly captures a solemn Native American funeral rite. The work depicts a male figure tenderly handling a papoose— a term historically used for a Native infant—amidst a riverside scene, evoking the cultural practices of some Indigenous tribes who conducted water or tree burials to honor the deceased and ensure their spiritual journey. Gifted by Dr. William Henry Holmes, this piece reflects 19th-century American artists' fascination with Native life during a time of rapid...