A lifelong enthusiast and collector of Western Americana, Mars loves the heroes and wonders of the day, like Annie Oakley! See her story below.
25.75 × 29 inches
acrylic silkscreen painting on heavyweight archival paper
Offers & payment plans accepted
Outside the U.S text or email your full shipping address with postal code and we will send a quote! 575-741-6111 or sedonafineart@gmail.com
Annie Oakley (1860 – 1926)
This folk heroine, from humble beginnings, performed before royalty and presidents during her time with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. She was an exceptional hunter by the time she reached puberty and helped to feed her family. After winning a town shooting contest with a well-known marksman, Frank Butler, he fell in love with her and they married in 1876 when Annie was 16. Oakley befriended Sitting Bull, a Lakota chief after his victory over Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn. It was Sitting Bull who dubbed her “Little Sure Shot”! Annie & Frank Butler joined The Buffalo Bill Cody show in 1885 and Annie won the crowd’s adoration and became the star of the show as “Champion Markswoman”and her husband became her manager. That’s True Love! Sitting Bull toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show with Annie Oakley in ‘85.
Sitting Bull “unofficially” adopted Oakley as his daughter, gifting her moccasins made by his deceased daughter — that he wore during the Battle of Little Bighorn. Oakley said "He fought justly, for his people had been driven from their God-given inheritance and were living upon broken promises. He is a dear, faithful, old friend, and I've great respect and affection for him".
The Buffalo Bill Show toured all over France, Italy, Spain, and in England they joined the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Oakley volunteered to teach marksmanship to the troops in World War I, gave time to the National War Council, War Camp Community Service, and the Red Cross.
In 1926, after fifty happy years of marriage, the Butlers died. Annie Oakley died on November 3 and Frank Butler died November 21, within three weeks of each other. Both died of natural causes after a long and adventuresome life. The legend of Annie Oakley endures into the 21st century.
