THE GEORGE CATLIN" INDIAN GALLERY, 795 



those of the individuals with whom they have been personally acquainted. The ar- 

 tist expended in the work of obtaining these pictures ten years of his life, and per- 

 severingly devoted himself to the task in the face of difficulties and dangers which en- 

 thusiasm in the pursuit could alone enable him to encounter. 



The King gallery of Indian portraits was received by tlie Smithsonian 

 Institution from the War Department in 1849, and occupied the east 

 and southeast walls of the picture gallery. 



Charles B. King was born at Newport, 11. I., in 1785, He went 

 abroad to learn art and lived much in London, where he studied with 

 Allston and Leslie. He remained in London until about 1812, painting 

 portraits until about 1818, when he returned to America and settled at 

 Washington. He was a gentleman of the old school, of popular man- 

 ners, and with artistic tastes. He painted many of the beaux, belles, 

 and women of our Eepublic during the years of his residence at Wash- 

 ington. In his earlier years he was the friend of Sully, Leslie, Dunlap, 

 and others of our early American artists. He was a lover of art, and 

 his studio on Twelfth street in Washington was filled with brica-hrac 

 and artistic results. His portraits were prized for accuracy, and as. an 

 artist he attained eminence, his rare industry and application assist- 

 ing him. His simplicity of character was marked.* 



THE INDIAN OPFICE GALLERY. 



The Indian Office (now Bureau of Indian Affairs) early in the century 

 began to collect portraits of the Indians who came to the capital. 

 Drawings were made of them by Lewis and Cooke, by A. Ford, and by 

 Mr. King. The formation of a collection in oil began in 1825, under the 

 direction of Hon. J. A. Barbour, Secretary of War. 



In April, 1833, Black Hawk and his fellow-warrior prisoners visited 

 the War Department and saw the Eling collections of Indian portraits. 

 They expressed more surprise and pleasure at the portraits than at any 

 thing else that was shown them in Washington, recognizing many of 

 them. Mr. King made most of the portraits in tliis gallery. 



In 1849 these pictures, upon the transfer of the Indian Office from the 

 War Department to the Interior Department, were sent to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



In the Corcoran Gallery of Art at Washington can be found two ex- 

 amples of Mr. Kjng's art, which are fairly illustrative of his ability — No. 

 92, portrait of John 0. Calhoun, painted about 18 — , and No. 122, por- 

 trait of Henry Clay, painted in 1822. Many of Mr. King's portraits were 

 engraved and became very popular. 



* Joseph SMIlington, esq., of Washington, known the land over as "the venerable boot-dealer," tells 

 an anecdote which illustrates Mr. King's forgetfalness. Mr. King called one dayatMr. Shillington's 

 place of business in the year 1860, then as now at the comer of Four-and-a-half street and Penn- 

 sylvania avenue, and invited him to call at his studio and gallery on Twelfth street between E and 

 F, east side. Mr. Shillingtou called, was shown in and left in possession by Mr. King. Ho enjoyed 

 the collection, which was large and artistic, and.flnally, having seen enough, desired to retire. Upon 

 trying the door ho found it locked. Mr. King had forgotten his guest, locked the door, and gone 

 home. Mr. SMIlington, after a search, discovered a back window, through which he made his escape. 

 He did not agam visit the King gallery. 



