A descriptive catalogue of Catlin's Indian gallery : containing portraits, landscapes, costumes, &c., and representations of the manners and customs of the North American Indians. Collected and painted entirely by Mr. Catlin ... Exhibiting at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London.

  • Catlin, George, 1796-1872.
Date:
[1840]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A descriptive catalogue of Catlin's Indian gallery : containing portraits, landscapes, costumes, &c., and representations of the manners and customs of the North American Indians. Collected and painted entirely by Mr. Catlin ... Exhibiting at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CERTIFICATES—INDIAN PORTRAITS. “ I hereby certify, that the persons whose signatures are affixed to the certificates used below, by Mr. Catlin, are officers in the service of the United States, as herein set forth ; and that their opinions of the accuracy of the likenesses, and correctness of the views, See., exhibited by him in his ‘Indian Gallery/are entitled to full credit. “J. R. POINSETT, Secretary of War, Washington” “With regard to the gentlemen whose names are affixed to certificates below, I am fully warranted in saying, that no individuals have had better opportunities of acquiring a knowledge of the persons, habits, costumes, and sports of the Indian tribes, or possess stronger claims upon the public confidence in the statements they make, respecting the correctness of delineations, &c. of Mr. Catlin’s ‘Indian Gallery/ and I may add my own testimony, with regard to many of those Indians whom I have seen, and whose likenesses are in the collection, and sketched with fidelity and correctness. “ C. A. HARRIS, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington.” “ I have seen Mr. Catlin’s collection of Portraits of Indians, east of the Rocky Mountains, many of which were familiar to me, and painted in my presence: and as far as they have included Indians of my acquaintance, the likenesses are easily recognized, bearing the most striking resemblance to the originals, as well as faithful representations of their costumes. “W. CLARK, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, St. Louis.” “ I have examined Mr. Catlin’s collection of the Upper Missouri Indians to the Rocky Mountains, all of which I am acquainted with, and indeed most of them were painted when I was present, and I do not hesitate to pronounce them correct likenesses, and readily to be recognized. And I consider the costumes, as painted by him, to be the only correct representations I have ever seen. JOHN F. A. SANFORD, “ V. SS. Indian Agent for Mandans, Rickarees, Minatarees, Crows, Knisteneaux, Assinneboins, Blackfeet, $*c.”