Junction of the Yellow Stone River with the Missouri

BODMER, Karl (1809-1893)

Verlag: Paris, Coblenz and London, 1842

Beschreibung

Engraving by Salathé after Bodmer, proof on india paper mounted, blindstamp. Some minor foxing, a 1" loss in the top left corner of the sheet. This title was printed from two different plates, one engraved by Salathé with six pronghorn antelope in the foreground and the French title starting 'Réunion.', the second by L. Weber with nine antelope in the foreground, a further seven in the mid-ground and the French title starting 'Confluent.' A rare India proof of one of the greatest landscape images to result from the Bodmer and Prince Maximilian's expedition to America's "Interior Parts." The travelers, aboard the steamer Assiniboine arrived at Fort Union, just above the junction of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, on June 24, 1833, after a journey of seventy-five days up the Missouri River from St.Louis. They stayed until July 6th, when they departed upriver by keelboat for Fort McKenzie. Fort Union was the uppermost point of steamer traffic at the time of Bodmer's visit and like most fur company posts on the Missouri at this time, was situated on a low open prairie sufficiently large to accommodate the large encampments of numerous Indians during the height of the trading season. Karl Bodmer's images show great versatility and technical virtuosity and give us a uniquely accomplished and detailed picture of a previously little understood (and soon to vanish) way of life. Swiss-born Bodmer was engaged by Prince Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1782-1867) specifically to provide a record of his travels in North America, principally among the Plains Indians. David Dreidoppel (Prince Maximilian's servant and hunting companion) accompanied the men on their travels in North America, which lasted from 1832 to 1834. Well-armed with information and advice, the party finally left St. Louis, on the most important stage of their travels, aboard the steamer Yellow Stone on April 10, 1833. They proceeded up the treacherous Missouri River along the line of forts established by the American Fur Company. At Bellevue they encountered their first Indians, then went on to make contact with the Sioux tribe, learning of and recording their little known ceremonial dances and powerful pride and dignity. Transferring from the Yellow Stone to another steamer, the Assiniboin, they continued to Fort Clark, visiting there the Mandan, Mintari, and Crow tribes, then the Assiniboins at Fort Union, the main base of the American Fur Company. On a necessarily much smaller vessel they journeyed through the extraordinary geological scenery of that section of the Missouri to Fort Mackenzie in Montana, establishing a cautious friendship with the fearsome Blackfeet. From this, the westernmost point reached, it was considered too dangerous to continue and the return journey downstream began. The winter brought its own difficulties and discomforts, but Bodmer was still able to execute numerous studies of the villages, dances and especially the people, who were often both intrigued and delighted by his work. The portraits are particularly notable for their capturing of individual personalities, as well as for forming a primary account of what were to become virtually lost cultures. Graff 4648; Howes M443a; Pilling 2521; Sabin 47014; Wagner-Camp 76:1. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 13857

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Junction of the Yellow Stone River with the ...

Verlag: Paris, Coblenz and London

Erscheinungsdatum: 1842

Einband: Softcover