The Art of Seth Eastman' 



By John Francis McDermott 



Associate Professor of English 

 Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. 



[With 8 plates] 

 I. FORT CRAWFORD AND WEST POINT, 1829-40 



In the summer of 1848 a journalist visiting at Fort Snelling re- 

 ported to his paper that Capt. Setli Eastman, the commandant, was 

 "not only an accomplished soldier, but an artist of rare excellence, 

 as his collection of original paintings and sketches abundantly testify, 

 and, moreover, learned in Indian history and character * * * he had 

 had rare opportunities, both in Florida and on the Upper Missis- 

 sippi, for studying savage life, both in its warlike and peaceful aspects 

 and with the true eye of artistical genius he has gloriously improved 

 them." [1] 2 



If we cannot today go as far as did John Kobb ("Solitaire") of the 

 St. Louis Reveille in speaking of "rare excellence," we can agree that 

 Eastman was a painter of talent and one who deserves a high place 

 as a pictorial historian of the Indian. He may not have had the 

 romantic glow of Alfred J. Miller or the showmanship of George 

 Catlin, but he was an able painter and a careful ethnographer. He 

 was in close contact with Indians for many years, particularly the 

 Sioux and Chippeway near Fort Snelling, and his sketches testify to 

 his sharp observation and his correctness of report. He learned to 

 speak the Sioux language and was "so familiar with everything re- 

 lating to the Dahcotah, or Sioux tribe, that he [could] * * * read the 

 private history of a chief or brave by the ornaments which decorate 

 his person," the admiring Eobb declared. A fortunate combination 

 of deep interest in the Indian and his ways, of devoted and continu- 

 ous use of his opportunities, and of skill with pencil and brush enabled 

 him to make a contribution of notable importance both historically 

 and pictorially. 



1 Reprinted from a booklet to accompany a traveling exhibition of paintings and draw- 

 ings circulated by the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service, 1959-60. 

 ' Numbers In brackets refer to list of references and notes at end of paper. 



577 



