774 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



VIEWS OF THE AMERICAN PRESS ON THE VALUE OP MR. CATLIN'S COLLECTIONS IN 



1837.-'38. 

 [The United States Gazette, Philadelphia, Pa., 1838.] 



Catlin's Indian Gallery.— The conception and plan of this gallery are in a high de- 

 gree ingenious and philosophical. While it seems to the careless visitor to be only a 

 very animated representation of some of the most striking incidents in Indian life, it 

 is in fact so contrived as to contain an intelligent and profound exposition of all that 

 characterizes the savage in mind, in memory, and in manners ; a revelation of the. 

 form and qualities of his understanding, of the shape and temper of his passions, of 

 his religious impressions and the traditions which have given them their hue, and of 

 the mingled ferocity and fun, barbarity, and bonhomie, which streak his character. 

 These are the matters that are brought out by a study of these pictures ; and they 

 show, on the part of the originator of this museum, a comprehension and reach of un- 

 derstanding which of themselves merit the name of genius. The execution is as happy 

 as the purpose is judicious. * * * And as a refiaed and finished portrait-painter, his 

 large picture of Osceola alone sets him on a level with the most ace omplished professors 

 in any part of the States, and show what eminence and what emolument might have 

 been achieved by him had he devoted himself to that narrower branch of his art. The 

 great and unshared merit of these sketches lies in the circumstance that there is noth- 

 ing either in the grouping or the detail in anywise imaginary, but that every scene 

 which his collection contains was copied by him from life, while the original was be- 

 fore him. Of the tribes thus represented, some have already, in the interval since 

 these drawings, been entirely swept away from the earth, and it is plain that others, 

 who escape that fate, will, as they are more nearly approached by the whites, lose 

 much that is distinctive in their character and habits, and in a few, probably a very 

 few years, the only memorial of the bravery, the sufferings, the toils, sports, customs, 

 dresses, and decorations of the Indians, will be Catlin's Gallery. * * * 



[The Philadelphia Gazette, 1838.1 



Catlin's Indian Gallery. — Wo cannot notice this collection too often. It is one of 

 those productions which illustrate, in an eminent degree, the observation of Playfair, 

 that when the proper time has arrived for some great work to be performed, some in- 

 dividual is raised up by Providence whose position and character and capacity pre- 

 cisely fit him for accomplishing the design. For reasons that will be appreciated by 

 the philosopher, the philanthropist, and the theologian, as well as considerations that 

 address themselves to the curiosity of the man of general knowledge, it was particu- 

 larly desirable that a full and authentic record should be given to the world of the 

 national characteristics of a race whose history is so pe culiar, whose condition is so 

 curious, and whose speedy extinguishment is so certain as those of the North American 

 Indians. Accordingly, when it is plain that the moment has arrived beyond which 

 the portraiture of their state cannot any longer be delayed, if it would be known that 

 they are in that native predicament which has been in nowise modified by European 

 intercourse, a man appears * * * who is end owed by nature with the hand and 

 eye of a painter, and who passes through a profess ional education which advances 

 his talents to the skill of an accomplished artist, and who has inherited a fortitude of 

 spirit, an elevation of purpose, and a vigor of limb, which render him competent to 

 encounter the dangers, the discouragements, and the di fficulties which of necessity 

 lie along the path of the object in question. The man is willing to devote the best 

 years of his life to the task of working out a great picture of those tribes of savages 

 which are separated by 2,000 miles from the farthest settlement of this nation. * * * 



TNew York Evening Star, 1837.1 



We have already spoken once or twice at some length of the value and interest 

 of this exhibitiou. It addresses itself to the feelings of tho rudest observer, and en- 

 gages the imagination of the idlest visitor, by revealing, with amazing copiousness, 



