Lot Essay
Brilliant in scale, composition and color, Pursued embodies all of the hallmark qualities which make Howard Terpning the premier living Western artist of the day. Set within a lush forest interior, Terpning depicts three Native Americans crossing a rushing river to flee an unknown enemy. With meticulous detail, Terpning breathes life into the rushing rapids and jagged edges of the rocky forest landscape. Elmer Kelton writes, "Landscape is often subdued in Howard Terpning paintings, but sometimes it is the most prominent feature. Frequently he sees a scene first, then decides how best to fit his Indian characters into it." (The Art of Howard Terpning, Bantam, New York, 1992, p. 64)