Framed The Battle of Tippecanoe by Kurz and Allison

The Battle of Tippecanoe by Kurz and Allison depicts the November 7, 1811, fight near Prophetstown, where U.S. forces under Governor William Henry Harrison clashed with Native warriors aligned with Tecumseh’s confederacy. In the print, the composition is crowded with action: American soldiers in bright blue uniforms fire volleys and thrust bayonets in disciplined lines, while Native fighters charge in dramatic poses, their figures highlighted by dynamic movement and color. Smoke, fire, and exaggerated gestures heighten the sense of chaos and heroism. True to Kurz and Allison’s style, the emphasis is on spectacle and patriotic narrative rather than historical accuracy, presenting the battle as a moment of valor and decisive struggle. The result is less a faithful record of the skirmish and more a popular, romanticized image meant to appeal to late 19th-century audiences interested in America’s formative conflicts.