Portrait of Frank Hamilton Cushing

About this artwork

Frank Hamilton Cushing was a noted anthropologist for the Bureau of American Ethnology. He spent several years in the Southwest among the Zuni Indians, studying their language and culture. The tribe adopted Cushing and made him a member of their secret society, called the Priesthood of the Bow. (“Initiated by Zuni Indians,” The Washington Post, February 15, 1893) Thomas Hovenden conveyed the man’s athleticism and energy with a casual pose that suggests Cushing might get up and stride out t...

Art Historical Context

Thomas Hovenden’s 1890 portrait captures anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing a pivotal moment in his career. As a researcher with the Bureau of American Ethnology, Cushing lived for years among the Zuni people of the American Southwest, learning their language and customs. The Zuni eventually adopted him into secret Priesthood of the Bow, honor rarely granted to outsiders. This remarkable cultural immersion made Cushing one of the most celebrated figures in late-nineteenth-century American anthropology. Hovenden emphasizes Cushing’s restless energy through a relaxed yet alert pose that sugg...

About the Artist

Thomas Hovenden

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