Sitting Bull portrait sells at auction to private bidder

BY SANDRA HALE SCHULMAN ICT

e rare portrait of Lakota leader Sitting Bull that was up for sale at Blackwell Auctions sold for $67,100 in mid-March to a private purchaser from the northeastern United States. e portrait was one of four paintings of Sitting Bull created by New York artist and activist Caroline Weldon, and is thought to be the only one still in private hands.

Stored for decades and needing repair, the solemn portrait of the charismatic Lakota leader was consigned to auction by heirs of the original owner from 1890. e artist’s friendship with Sitting Bull was made into a 2017 lm, “Woman Walks Ahead.”

“I just tried to promote it as best I could,” Blackwell auctioneer Edwin Bailey told ICT. “I knew that it was a very special piece, and the story was abso-