Two Indians and a White Man in a Canoe

1811–ca. 1813

Not on view

In this illustration for his book "A Picturesque Voyage in North America" (1815), Svinin combined his self-portrait with depictions of two Osage Indians borrowed from the work of Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. Although he likely did not have such an encounter with American Indians during his travels, he may have wanted this composite group—surrounded by an unspoiled landscape—to provide a hopeful image of harmonious relations between Indians and Euro-Americans.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Title: Two Indians and a White Man in a Canoe
Artist: Pavel Petrovich Svinin (1787/88–1839)
Date: 1811–ca. 1813
Culture: American
Medium: Watercolor and graphite on white wove paper
Dimensions: 5 13/16 x 8 1/2 in. (14.8 x 21.6 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1942
Object Number: 42.95.33
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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