american indians
George Catlin was an American painter and writer, renowned for his vivid portrayal of Native American peoples and their cultures. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Catlin's early fascination with Native Americans grew into a lifelong dedication. His journey to the American West in the 1830s marked the beginning of an ambitious project to capture the disappearing tribes and their ways of life through his art.
Catlin's unique contribution to art and anthropology lies in his extensive collection of paintings, which document the appearance and customs of Native American tribes before the significant impacts of Western expansion. His most notable works, such as the "Buffalo Bull's Back Fat" and "Bird's Eye View of Mandan Village," are celebrated for their detailed representation and vibrant storytelling. These works provide a window into a world that was, at the time, largely misunderstood and misrepresented by mainstream American society.
His dedication led to the creation of the "Indian Gallery," an extensive traveling exhibition of his paintings and artifacts collected during his travels. This collection toured throughout the U.S. and Europe, raising awareness and sparking curiosity about Native American life and culture. For art collectors and experts in antiques, Catlin's works not only offer artistic beauty but also serve as historical documents of immense value.
If you are intrigued by the profound historical and cultural narratives captured in Catlin's paintings, consider signing up for updates on new product sales and auction events related to George Catlin. Stay informed and enrich your collection with pieces of a pivotal era in American history.
Thomas Loraine McKenney was an American statesman and author.
After the abolition of the U.S. Indian trading program in 1822, then Secretary of War John C. Calhoun established a position in the War Department called Superintendent of Indian Affairs (later to become part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs). McKenney was the first appointed to this position and held it until 1830. Over the years, he worked tirelessly to promote Indian-American relations, advocating for the interests of Indians and striving to preserve the memory of their vanishing culture. Despite his interest in Native American history, McKenney sought to have them assimilated to Euro-American culture through Christian education.
McKenney commissioned leading artists, including Charles Byrd King, to paint portraits of Indian chiefs from more than twenty tribes who visited Washington on official business over a ten-year period. These portraits formed the basis of the government's National Portrait Gallery, first housed in the War Department and later transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. This gallery was featured in part in the three-volume History of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836-1844), with biographical sketches by McKenney, co-authored with Illinois lawyer and writer James Hall.
In 1865, a fire at the Smithsonian Institution destroyed all but a few of the portraits, which are now in the White House. Thus this three-volume book represents the only reliable source on the appearance of many of the most prominent leaders of Indian tribes.
James Hall was an American lawyer, judge, treasurer, and editor.
Hall studied law, fought in the War of 1812, served as a lawyer and circuit judge, newspaper and magazine editor, Illinois state treasurer, and banker in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, he was also a historical and fiction writer. In 1828, Hall compiled the first western literary yearbook, Western Souvenir, and edited the Illinois Monthly Magazine. James Hall wrote a travel book, Letters from the West (1828), a novel, The Head of the Harp (1833), and several volumes of short stories.
Hall also contributed to the three-volume History of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836-1844). This book includes portraits of the chiefs of more than twenty Indian tribes, which were painted by noted artists of the day, with biographical sketches by Superintendent of Indian Affairs Thomas L. McKenney.
Karl Bodmer was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator and hunter.
George Catlin was an American painter and writer, renowned for his vivid portrayal of Native American peoples and their cultures. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Catlin's early fascination with Native Americans grew into a lifelong dedication. His journey to the American West in the 1830s marked the beginning of an ambitious project to capture the disappearing tribes and their ways of life through his art.
Catlin's unique contribution to art and anthropology lies in his extensive collection of paintings, which document the appearance and customs of Native American tribes before the significant impacts of Western expansion. His most notable works, such as the "Buffalo Bull's Back Fat" and "Bird's Eye View of Mandan Village," are celebrated for their detailed representation and vibrant storytelling. These works provide a window into a world that was, at the time, largely misunderstood and misrepresented by mainstream American society.
His dedication led to the creation of the "Indian Gallery," an extensive traveling exhibition of his paintings and artifacts collected during his travels. This collection toured throughout the U.S. and Europe, raising awareness and sparking curiosity about Native American life and culture. For art collectors and experts in antiques, Catlin's works not only offer artistic beauty but also serve as historical documents of immense value.
If you are intrigued by the profound historical and cultural narratives captured in Catlin's paintings, consider signing up for updates on new product sales and auction events related to George Catlin. Stay informed and enrich your collection with pieces of a pivotal era in American history.
Robert Indiana (born Robert Clark) was an American artist associated with the pop art movement.
His iconic image LOVE was first created in 1964 in the form of a card which he sent to several friends and acquaintances in the art world. In 1965, Robert Indiana was invited to propose an artwork to be featured on the Museum of Modern Art's annual Christmas card. Indiana submitted several 12” square oil on canvas variations based on his LOVE image. The museum selected the most intense color combination in red, blue, and green. It became one of the most popular cards the museum has ever offered. Indiana continued to develop his LOVE series, and in 1966, worked with Marian Goodman of Multiples, Inc. to make his first LOVE sculpture in aluminum. In 1970, Indiana completed his first monumental LOVE sculpture in Cor-Ten steel which is in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Indiana made posters and prints and also designed stage sets and costumes for the Virgil Thompson and Gertrude Stein opera The Mother of Us All. Indiana's artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world and is included in the permanent collections of many major museums including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Robert Indiana (born Robert Clark) was an American artist associated with the pop art movement.
His iconic image LOVE was first created in 1964 in the form of a card which he sent to several friends and acquaintances in the art world. In 1965, Robert Indiana was invited to propose an artwork to be featured on the Museum of Modern Art's annual Christmas card. Indiana submitted several 12” square oil on canvas variations based on his LOVE image. The museum selected the most intense color combination in red, blue, and green. It became one of the most popular cards the museum has ever offered. Indiana continued to develop his LOVE series, and in 1966, worked with Marian Goodman of Multiples, Inc. to make his first LOVE sculpture in aluminum. In 1970, Indiana completed his first monumental LOVE sculpture in Cor-Ten steel which is in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Indiana made posters and prints and also designed stage sets and costumes for the Virgil Thompson and Gertrude Stein opera The Mother of Us All. Indiana's artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world and is included in the permanent collections of many major museums including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
