George Catlin, A-wun-ne-wa-be, Bird of Thunder, 1845, oil on canvas, 29 x 24 in. (73.7 x 60.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.536
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Artwork Details
- Title
- A‑wun-ne-wa-be, Bird of Thunder
- Artist
- Date
- 1845
- Location
- Dimensions
- 29 x 24 in. (73.7 x 60.9 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- oil on canvas
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Portrait male — Bird of Thunder
- Indian — Ojibwa
- Object Number
- 1985.66.536
Artwork Description
In the 1840s, George Catlin traveled to Europe to exhibit and promote his Indian Gallery; and during those years, delegations of Iowa and Ojibwe joined him. In the spring of 1845, Catlin took his Indian Gallery and the visiting Iowa to Paris, where their performances drew the interest of such cultural figures as Victor Hugo and Eugène Delacroix. When the Iowa returned to the United States, they were replaced by a group of Ojibwe, including Tempest Bird, Bird of Thunder, and Pelican. They so entertained King Louis Philippe that he asked them to perform for the royal family and invited Catlin to exhibit his collection at the Louvre.
