작품 상세

DANIELS, William (1813-1880). Native Americans at Mr. Catlin's Exhibition in 1839. Oil on board. Inscription on verso: "A sketch by Daniel Red Indians of North America taken from Life at Mr. Catlon's Exhibition. An original sketch by J. Daniels of Liverpool." 11 3/4" x 8 7/8" paper, 9" x 8" mount. A Striking Portrait of Native Americans Visiting Catlin’s Painting Exhibition of 1839 William Daniels was the son of a brick maker from Liverpool. He studied drawing at the Royal Institution in Liverpool and pursued a career as a wood engraver having been encouraged by an engraver named Mosses. Against his father’s better judgement he pursued his artistic career in drawing lessons when not bricklaying. He established himself finally as a portrait painter there. for which he is predominantly known and was nicknamed ‘the Rembrandt of Liverpool’. His dramatic candle light effects gained him a ready supply of commissions. He exhibited in Manchester and once at the Royal Academy where he was complemented by the President. William Daniels was well read and led a rather reckless and bohemian life – “He drank heavily, consorted with pugilists, pedlars, tramps, mummers and so forth, sang a good song, never refused a dram and did much of his work for public houses”. Indeed it is said that he would have had a much more illustrious and successful career had he cared as much about his work as he cared for carousing! Trained as a lawyer, Pennsylvania-born George Catlin (1796–1872) gave up his legal endeavours in order to pursue a career in art and, following an inspiring meeting with a tribal delegation of Plains Indians, Catlin was determined to honour their customs in his art. From 1832, he began to produce a vast collection of paintings and he also amassed some of the tribes’ artifacts (including a 7m-high tepee) in order to bring his pictures to life. Catlin travelled to Europe in 1839 to show his so-called ‘Indian Gallery’ in London, Brussels and Paris. He was accompanied on his journey by some Plains Indians, who were keen to see Europe and to be simultaneously honoured for their traditions. Catlin found that the nine Ojibwas and fourteen Iowan Indians drew larger crowds and they were even invited to Windsor Castle to perform ritual dances and show off their sporting prowess to Queen Victoria.  In Paris, Charles Baudelaire was impressed to see that Catlin had captured the proud and noble spirit of the Indian race. Encouraged by this and similarly enthusiastic responses from others attending his exhibitions, Catlin tried to sell the collection of over 600 pictures en bloc to the US Government. However, failing to find an appetite amongst the Government officials for this vast archive of social history, Catlin was obliged to sell it to a collector to defray his mounting debts. It is now to be found, almost entirely complete, in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.