MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS.* 



INDIAN PORTRAITS, OIL PAINTINGS, DAGUERREOTYPES AND PHOTO- 

 GRAPHS. 



But four collections of Indian portraits and scenes in oil were made 

 during the century prior to 1865, viz : The collections of George Catlin, 

 Charles B. King, J. M. Stanley, and Seth Eastman, although J. O. 

 Lewis, of Philadelphia, was one of the first artists to attempt such a 

 collection. C. W. Peale's museum in Philadelphia contained, as early 

 as 1785, an Indian collection. Daguerreotype and photographic col- 

 lections in abundance have been made since 1845, but the above four 

 constitute the collections of Indian paintings. 



THE SMITHSONIAN ART GALLERY OF 1859. 

 THE STANLEY AND KING COLLECTIONS. 



In 1859 the Smithsonian Institution contained an art gallery. It was 

 a room in the west end of the present Ethnological Hall, in the second 

 story of the building. After the fire of January 24, 1865, the second 

 story was remodeled, and the present Ethnological Hall was formed 

 from the picture gallery, lecture room, and apparatus room. All three 

 were thrown into one. 



The Stanley and King collections were both in this gallery at the date 

 of the fire. The Stanley collection was, however, his private property, 

 while the Kiug collection was the property of the United States. 



From Mr. W. J. Khees' publication of 1859, the following data and the 

 accompanying illustration are taken : 



THE GALLERY OF ART. 



Besides a library, a museum, lectures, etc., among the earliest plans was the forma- 

 tion of a Gallery of Art, and, in accordance with this, a large room was devoted to 

 this purpose. It was also determined that for the purpose of encouraging art, artists 

 might exhibit tlieir pictures here free of expense. The feature of this gallery is th e 

 very interesting series of portraits, mostly full size, of over one hundred and fifty 

 North American Indians, with sketches of scenery, deposited by the artist who painted 

 them, Mr. J. M. Stanley. These portraits were all taken from life, and are accurate 

 representations of the peculiar features of prominent individuals of forty-three differ- 

 ent tribes, inhabiting the Southwestern prairies, New Mexico, California, and Oregon. 

 The faithfulness of the likeness has been tested by a number of intelligent persons 

 who have visited the gallery, and have immediately recognized among the portraits 



* The memoranda given in this chapter is for the purpose of preserving information relative to In 

 dian portraiture and scenes from every -day life. 



794 



