The Last of the Herd by Henry F. Farny

The landscape and melancholic work entitled “The Last of the Herd” is masterfully part of the artistic corpus of Henry Farny. A recognized specialist in scenes of the wild West, the painter depicts here a crucial aspect of plains tribal life: the buffalo hunt. This painting reflects the end of an era when these majestic animals abounded, offering a poignant testimony to the close and respectful relationship between Native Americans and this resource indispensable for their survival.

At the center of this panoramic composition, the imposing carcass of a freshly hunted buffalo lies on the light, sandy ground which is dotted with light patches of white winter snow. A shirtless Native American hunter, with a single feather in his dark hair, is proudly mounted on his brown horse and contemplates the beast with deep solemnity. Toward the left, another character walks slowly on foot, guiding a pack horse equipped with a traditional wooden travois for transport. The background reveals an immense arid plain and gentle yellowish hills under a clear blue sky extending to the far horizon. The soft light beautifully illuminates the immensity of this wild landscape.

The artist demonstrates incredible skill in the precise anatomical treatment of the buffalo and the horse. His careful pictorial technique and his natural color palette allow him to restore the silent and solemn atmosphere of the Great Plains with exceptional documentary truth.