BEYOND THE WIDE MISSOURI

Bronze, 28.5″H x 18.5″L x 8.5″D, Limited Ed. 50 – Created 1995

This bronze sculpture, created in 1995, portrays a young American farm boy who has journeyed west ‘Beyond the Wide Missouri’ from the eastern seaboard to the wilderness of the great frontier. His dream of becoming a gallant soldier in the 7th Cavalry, under the command of General Armstrong Custer, has become a reality. Vic Payne skillfully captures the boy’s proud expression as he gracefully displays the famous 7th Cavalry flag during battle.

This sculpture was the third companion piece in the “Into the Valley of Deep Shadows” series, named the historic Battle of Little Bighorn. As you may already know, the flag depicted in the sculpture was captured during that battle by a Sioux Indian in 1876. It remained in Sioux possession for six weeks before being recovered at Slim Butte, South Dakota.

Despite the young cavalryman’s life being tragically cut short at the Little Bighorn, he was among the fortunate few who witnessed the vast western frontier before it disappeared in the subsequent months. Even amidst the harshness and tragedy of life, those who ventured ‘Beyond the Wide Missouri’ held a sense of gladness and adventure. Vic Payne’s work beautifully captures this poignant moment in history.