Available online
Description
Although he trained as a lawyer, George Catlin chose the life of an artist, author and traveller and is best known for his paintings of Native Americans. During the 1830s he travelled among the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Plains, several times writing about them and painting them. He created a touring 'Indian Gallery', travelling around America to display his collection of paintings and artifacts. In 1852 he was forced to sell his collection to pay off his debts. He spent the last 20 years of his life attempting to recreate it.
Although he trained as a lawyer, George Catlin chose the life of an artist, author and traveller and is best known for his paintings of Native Americans. During the 1830s he travelled among the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Plains, several times writing about them and painting them. He created a touring 'Indian Gallery', travelling around America to display his collection of paintings and artifacts. In 1852 he was forced to sell his collection to pay off his debts. He spent the last 20 years of his life attempting to recreate it.
Alternative formats
• Plain text
(opens in new window)
• Plain text
(opens in new window)
| Title: | Letter from George Catlin |
|---|---|
| Description: | George Catlin discusses his wood cut casts and their price in quite some detail. He also refers to the American Civil War which is currently taking place. He writes from Ostende (Belgium) and is dismayed that he cannot return to America due to the conflict. |
| Address: | Parte Restaul Ostende |
| Letter dated: | 27-07-1862 |
| Physical description: | Sampson Low Letters, Volume 1, 3 pages |
| Types of letter: | Discussion of work published or forthcoming, including copyright; References the American Civil War |
| Letter note: | This letter has a related note written by the Reverend Frederick William Low who compiled the volumes c.1913: "George Catlin, one of the first authorities on the habits of the North American Indians, was born in 1796. He wrote "Manners, Customs and Conditions of the North American Indians" and other works, and died Dec: 23. 1872." |
| Rights statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | No further use without permission. Contact university-archive@open.ac.uk |
| Image rights: | National Portrait Gallery Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the Smithsonian American Art Museum; gift of Miss May C. Kinney Ernest C. Kinney and Bradford Wickes 1945 https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ |
| Identifier: | SL_21 |
