ticketsMember | Make a donation

Choosing of the Arrow

1849
Not on view
In 1848, Brown earned a commission for a statuette representing an Indigenous subject from the American-Art Union, a New York organization that distributed art to subscribers by annual lottery. To prepare for Choosing of the Arrow, he traveled to Michigan’s Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. His visit coincided with a gathering of Chippewa and Ottawa peoples, and he spent much of his time sketching them. The resulting sculpture, an idealized male nude reaching to draw an arrow from the quiver strapped to his back, reveals Brown’s exacting attention to detail in the subtle handling of the ribcage and the ornamental topknot.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Choosing of the Arrow
  • Artist: Henry Kirke Brown (American, Leyden, Massachusetts 1814–1886 Newburgh, New York)
  • Date: 1849
  • Geography: Made in United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 22 x 11 3/8 x 5 5/8 in. (55.9 x 28.9 x 14.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Mia R. Taradash and Dorothy Schwartz Gifts, and Morris K. Jesup and Rogers Funds, 2005
  • Object Number: 2005.405
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Panther and Cubs, Henry Kirke Brown American, Bronze, American
Panther and Cubs
Henry Kirke Brown
ca. 1850–55
Filatrice, Henry Kirke Brown American, Bronze, American
Filatrice
Henry Kirke Brown
1850
The Indian Hunter, John Quincy Adams Ward American, Bronze, American
The Indian Hunter
John Quincy Adams Ward
1860, cast by 1883
Indian Figure in Profile, Henry Kirke Brown American, Watercolor and graphite on thin off-white gilt-edged Bristol board, American
Indian Figure in Profile
Henry Kirke Brown
1851
The Last Arrow, Randolph Rogers American, Bronze, American
The Last Arrow
Randolph Rogers
Fonderia Nelli
1879–80, cast 1880

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.