How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Nora Foote, an English artist, visited the Blood Reserve in Alberta, Canada, in 1895. This portrait of Little Ears is one of several portraits of local people she painted there. Little Ears, also known as Small Eared Old Man, was the leader of the All Short People Band of the Kainai people. The Kainai were comprised of numerous bands, which had no formal structure, but each had a recognised leader. Little Ears had taken on this role after the death of his brother in 1892. When this picture was painted he was around 40 years old. Little Ears is wearing his best clothes, made of deerskin and highly decorated. The collar is red flannel, with several ermine skins hanging from it. The blue and brown patterns on the shirt sleeve are beadwork. Such suits took a long time to make and were very valuable.

The Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Oxford

Title

Little Ears

Date

1895

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 92 x W 79 cm

Accession number

1984.19.1

Acquisition method

gift, 1981

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

South Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PP England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue