Portrait of Diplomacy: Cherokee Chief Ostenaco’s Journey Captured on Canvas
- Cherokee 411 Staff
- Oct 8
- 2 min read
At the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, visitors are greeted by a striking portrait of the Cherokee diplomat Ostenaco—Syacust Ukah—painted by renowned British artist Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1762. The painting invites viewers to pause and reflect on a moment of cultural tension, trans-Atlantic diplomacy, and enduring Native leadership.
