Artwork
Indian Fire God (The Going of the Medicine-Horse)
Indian Fire God (The Going of the Medicine-Horse) is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Frederic Remington. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
About this work
Overview
Frederic Remington’s oil painting Indian Fire God (The Going of the Medicine‑Horse) was completed in 1898 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The work presents a nocturnal tableau dominated by a luminous horse, its feathered headdress catching a shaft of light, while shadowed figures surround the animal in a solemn gathering.
Subject & Meaning
The central horse, poised as if in mid‑gallop or rearing, is portrayed as a sacred entity, evoking the mythic Indian fire god. A lone figure on the ground looks upward, suggesting reverence, while other indistinct participants stand in darkness, their faces concealed, reinforcing a sense of ritual worship and awe toward the animal’s power.
Technique & Style
Remington employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting the bright illumination on the horse and its adornments with the deep shadows enveloping the surrounding figures and background. This dramatic lighting creates spatial depth and focuses the viewer’s attention on the illuminated subject, while the brushwork conveys the texture of the horse’s mane and the atmospheric gloom.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed at the height of Remington’s interest in the American West and its indigenous cultures. After its creation in 1898, the work entered private collections before being acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s American art holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art.
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