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EACH PRINT WITH AUTOGRAPH DETAILS ON THE SUBJECT (INDIANS.) Burbank, Elbridge Ayer. Group of 32 color reproductions of his portraits of Indians,
EACH PRINT WITH AUTOGRAPH DETAILS ON THE SUBJECT (INDIANS.) Burbank, Elbridge Ayer. Group of 32 color reproductions of his portraits of Indians, each Inscribed and Signed by Burbank on the verso, giving insightful information on the personalities of his subjects, or discussing their costumes and culture, on 8vo and small 4to sheets; most issued as part of series reproducing the artist's work. Chicago, 1899
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Notes: Elbridge Ayer Burbank was the nephew of Edward Ayer, historian of Native-American cultures and owner of one of the largest libraries on the subject. The bibliography of his collection became the first comprehensive treatment of the literature of Native Americans. As president of the Field Columbian Museum he commissioned his nephew to create portraits of the leading Indians of the time.
Burbank became one of the most prominent painters of Indians and it is said he produced the only painted portrait of Geronimo taken from life. The reproductions offered here are significant for the autograph notes added by Burbank on the versos of the prints. He humanizes his subjects and makes them real. In a lengthy description of Geronimo he notes that "he was most kind to animals and a kindly husband to his sick wife." He goes on to describe how Geronimo took on some his wife's duties, including keeping the house in order. In speaking of Chief Kicking-Bear of the Sioux tribe he says, "He wanted me to live with him the remainder of my life. When he was in Washington D. C. the Smithsonian took a plaster cast of his whole body on account of the perfect form of it."
Together, an important archive containing insights on the American Indian by one the greatest portraitists of the time.
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June 16, 2005 12:00 AM EDT
New York, NY, US
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