Click the image to view a close-up section of the charcoal and pencil drawing
 "Aces and Eights"

“Aces and Eights”

The objects in this still life drawing depict the circumstances surrounding Wild Bill Hickok’s last poker hand.  As the legend goes, Wild Bill was shot in the back while playing poker in Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota.  Since then, aces and eights have been referred to as
 “ the dead man’s hand.”  Since the incident, there has been a disagreement about his fifth card, but most historians today believe it had not yet been drawn.