Els-Kwau-Ta-Waw, The Open Door Framed Lithograph
This striking framed lithograph captures a portrait from Charles Bird King's seminal "History of the Indian Tribes of North America." Hand-colored on paper, the work showcases the meticulous craftsmanship of 19th-century printmaking, produced by the renowned Philadelphia firm Lehman & Duval and published by Edward C. Biddle. The piece exemplifies King's ethnographic documentation and artistic vision, offering a window into early American historical illustration. A distinguished addition to collections of American art, historical prints, and indigenous cultural documentation.
A remarkable artifact from Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall's groundbreaking "History of the Indian Tribes of North America," published in Philadelphia by Frederick W. Greenough in 1838. This hand-colored lithograph represents a poignant historical record—the original paintings commissioned by McKenney, an ardent advocate for Native American rights and cultural preservation, were tragically lost to fire. These lithographs remain as the sole surviving documentation of those portraits, painted by acclaimed artist Charles Bird King. This piece embodies both artistic significance and historical importance, preserving McKenney's legacy of honoring and documenting Native American heritage during a critical period in American history.
- Subject: The portrait depicts the Shawnee Native American religious and political leader Tenskwatawa (c. 1775–1836), also known as "The Prophet" or "The Open Door". He was the younger brother of the prominent Shawnee chief Tecumseh.
- Original Artwork: The lithograph is based on an original oil painting by American portraitist Charles Bird King, who was commissioned by Thomas McKenney to paint Native American delegates visiting Washington D.C..
- Historical Significance: The original collection of King's paintings was nearly all destroyed in a fire at the Smithsonian Institution in 1865, making these lithographs some of the only remaining visual records of many influential 19th-century Native American leaders.
- Publication: The print is part of a multi-volume work, originally published in 20 folio parts between 1836 and 1844. The specific print shown was published by E.C. Biddle in Philadelphia in 1833, before the full work was completed. The text in the image notes the work was published by Frederick W. Greenough in 1838, which indicates a specific issue or edition date.
- Medium: It is a hand-colored lithograph on paper, created by the firm Lehman & Duval, who produced many of the prints for the first editions of the book.
Features
Framed lithograph with hand coloring on paper
