University of Virginia Library

CATLIN'S INDIAN GALLERY.

CERTIFICATES.

Indian Portraits.

I have seen Mr. Catlin's collection of Portraits of Indians,
East of the Rocky Mountains, many of which were familiar
to me, and painted in my presence: and as far as they have
included Indians of my acquaintance, the likenesses are easily
recognized, bearing the most striking resemblance to
the originals, as well as faithful representations of their costumes.

Gen. Wm. Clark,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs, St. Louis.

I have examined Mr. Catlin's collection of the Upper
Missouri Indians, to the Rocky Mountains, all of which I
am acquainted with, and indeed most of them were painted
when I was present, and I do not hesitate to pronounce them
correct likenesses, and readily to be recognized. And I
consider the costumes, as painted by him to be the only
correct representations I have ever seen.

John F. A. Sandford,
U. S. S. Indian Agent for Mandans, Rickarces, Minatarees,
Crows, Knisteneaux, Assinneboins, Blackfeet, &c.

Having examined Mr. Catlin's collection of Portraits of
Indians of the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, I have no
hesitation in pronouncing them, so far as I am acquainted

with the individuals, to be the best I have ever seen, both as
regards the expression of countenance and the exact and
complete manner in which the costume has been painted
by him.

John L. Bean,
S. Agent for Indian Affairs.

I have been for many years past in familiar acquaintance
with the Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri to the Rocky
Mountains, and also with the Landscape and other Scenes
represented in Mr. Catlin's collection, and it gives me great
pleasure to assure the world that on looking them over, I
found the likenesses of my old friends easily to be recognized,
and his sketches of Manners and Customs to be pourtrayed
with singular truth and correctness.

J. Pilcher,
Agent for Upper Missouri Indians.

It gives me great pleasure in being enabled to add my
name to the list of those who have spontaneously expressed
their approbation of Mr. Catlin's collection of Indian Paintings.
His collection of materials places it in his power to
throw much light on the Indian character, and his portraits,
so far as I have seen them, are drawn with great fidelity as
to character and likeness.

Henry Schoolcraft,
Indian Agent for Wisconsin Territory.

Having lived and dealt with the Black Feet Indians for
five years past, I was enabled to recognize every one of the
Portraits of those people, and of the Crows, also, which
Mr. Catlin has in his collection, from the faithful likenesses
they bore to the originals.

St. Louis, 1835.

J. E. Brazeau.

Having spent 16 years in the continual acquaintance with
the Indians of the several tribes of the Upper Missouri
Indians. represented in Mr. Catlin's Gallery of Indian Paintings,
I was enabled to judge of the correctness of the likenesses,
and I instantly recognized every one of them, when I
looked them over, from the striking resemblances they bore
to the originals—so also, of the Landscapes on the Missouri.

Honore Picotte.

The Portraits in the possession of Mr. Catlin of Pawnee-picts,
Kioways, Camanches, Wecos and Osages, were painted
by him from life, when on a tour to their country with the
U. States Dragoons. The likenesses are good, very easily
to be recognized, and the costumes faithfully represented.

           

HENRY DODGE,	Colonel of Dragoons.
R. H. MASON,	Major of Dragoons.
D. HUNTER,	Captains of Dragoons.
D. PERKINS,
M. DUNCAN,
T. B. WHEELOCK,	Lieut. Dragoons.

We have seen Mr. Catlin's portraits of Indians east of the
Rocky Mountains, many of which are familiar to us; the
likenesses are easily recognized, bearing a strong resemblance
to the originals, as well as a faithful representation of
their costumes.

Jno. Dougherty, Indian Agent.

J. Gantt.

November 27th, 1837.

We hereby certify, that the portraits of the Grand Pawnees,
Republican Pawnees, Pawnee Loups, Tappage Pawnees,
Otoes, Omahaws and Missouries, which are in Mr.
Catlin's Indian Gallery, were painted from life by Mr. Geo.
Catlin, and that the individuals sat to him in the costumes
precisely in which they are painted.

Jno. Dougherty,
Indian Agent for Pawnees, Omahaws, and Otoes.

J. Gantt.

New York, 1837.

I have seen Mr. Catlin's collection of Indian Portraits,
many of which were familiar to me, and painted in my presence
at their own villages. I have speat the greater part of
my life amongst the tribes and individuals he has represented,
and I do not hesitate to pronounce them correct likenesses,
and easily recognized; also his sketches of their manners
and customs, I think, are excellent; and the landscape views
on the Missouri and Mississippi, are correct representations.

K. McKenzie,
Of the Am. Fur Comp., Mouth of Yellow Stone.