Carl Ethan Akeley

Carl Akeley was a well-known taxidermist and naturalist who worked for the Natural History Museum. Inspired by his first trip to Africa in 1896, Akeley was determined to create a full-scale diorama of the animals he encountered on his journey, wanting to depict the animals in their natural habitats. The Wounded Comrade, the first and most acclaimed work in the series, portrays a scene that the artist had observed firsthand: the moment when an elephant was injured and the herd rushed in to escort the wounded animal to safety. 

The present work was dedicated to Max Fleishmann, the heir to the Fleischmann Yeast Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Known as a successful American businessman, philanthropist and game hunter, he described himself as an avid amateur naturalist. It was their combined passions that allowed Akeley and Fleishmann to cross paths. Fleishmann generously supported the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and in 1937 and funded the creation of the Museum’s Mammal Hall.