Art of Bronze is proud to offer “The End of the Trail” (10” H.) bronze sculpture after James Earle Fraser.  This scaled down statue vividly portrays a weary Native American man, draped in the remnants of a blanket, clutching a spear. Limp and fatigued, he is accompanied by his exhausted horse with swollen eyes.  The wind tousles the horse’s tail, indicating they face away from the relentless elements.

Originating in 1894, Fraser created several versions until his two-and-a-half-times life-size model of the statue in plaster. This large plaster version of the work was displayed on an eight-foot pedestal at the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and was awarded the gold medal, garnering national attention.  The statue embodied the suffering and exhaustion of people driven from their native lands and pushed off the continent into the Pacific Ocean.

The central figure is inspired by Seneca Chief John Big Tree, while the horse finds its origin in another Fraser creation, In the Wind. As a powerful commentary, End of the Trail encapsulates the profound impact of Euro-American settlement on Native Americans, embodying their suffering and exhaustion as they are displaced from their ancestral lands2.

Fraser’s deep connection to Native American culture significantly influenced the sculpture’s creation. Today, the 1915 version resides in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum.

James Earle Fraser was an American sculptor and teacher, born on November 4, 1876, in Winona, Minnesota, and passing away on October 11, 1953, in Westport, Connecticut. Fraser is best known for his public monuments, designing the buffalo head nickel and embodying themes deeply rooted in American history.

Each bronze sculpture is cast in the ‘lost wax’ method and hand finished to capture excellent texture and detail throughout the entire sculpture.  Custom fit marble bases are attached to each sculpture.  A bronze plaque with etched lettering featuring the title of the sculpture and Fraser’s name is available to attach to the front or backside of the marble base.

Art of Bronze is comprised of artisans, craftsmen and dedicated professionals that will guide you through the maintenance and delivery of your new sculpture.  Art of Bronze is not an overnight online operation.  We specialize in custom commissions and can create any concept or idea you have into bronze.  We have decades of experience working with developers, city agencies, shopping centers, art in public places and school administrations.