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"Decision Time"
Giclée canvas print:
16" x 20", edition size - 100 s/n
$775 unframed

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Unframed print - $775 +
$15 handling/shipping = $790

The year is 1909, and the safari caravan has been traveling for two days in the dry prickly heat of British East Africa. There are one hundred ninety-six porters, in addition to askaris, tent boys, gun-bearers and saises. As well as those on foot, there are ox wagons carrying the necessary supplies, skins and taxidermy equipment. The hunting party leads the caravan on horseback, setting up fly camps en-route to rest both man and beast. Although they traveled at the cooler times of the day, and rested in the midday heat, the journey is exhausting, but everyone is in high spirits.

To manage such a safari takes great skill and knowledge of the land. There are hills to climb, dry riverbeds to follow and water to ford. The safari is that of Theodore Roosevelt and the leader is R.J. Cunninghame, and he has chosen his head men well. The caravan arrives at a river, Cunninghame dismounts and moves to the edge of the bank to see where would be the best place to cross. TR remains on his mount until a decision has been made. More than likely one of the porters will be sent to check its depth after first making sure there are not crocodiles or hippos lying in wait.

During Roosevelt’s year-long safari, many bodies of water had to be crossed, and the decision whether to cross or not had to be made on a regular basis.

My painting doesn’t depict a specific river, merely a moment in time, which was probably a regular occurrence, for this and other safaris at this time.


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