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MOREL, T.
G.H.C. Melody et les Indiens Ioways. Comme ils ont été presentés à S.M. Louis Philippe, le 21 Avril, 1845
Paris: Printed by Bertauts, [no date but circa 1845]. Tinted lithograph. Very good condition apart from some overall light soiling and several skillfully repaired small tears and losses in the margins. Image size (including text): 12 3/4 x 17 1/8 inches. Sheet size: 15 1/4 x 19 inches.
An extremely rare lithograph depicting a group of Ioway Indians who traveled to Paris with George Catlin in 1845.
This fascinating group portrait is an extremely rare lithograph depicting a group of Ioway Indians who accompanied the American painter George Catlin to Paris, in the winter of 1845. Following a successful debut in London, Catlin closed his celebrated Indian Gallery and retired to the country, where he worked on lithographs and text for his "North American Indian Portfolio". The arrival of a group of Ioway Indians, in the summer of 1844, revived Catlin's entrepreneurial enthusiasm and he immediately hired them to perform in London. After a brief tour through Ireland and Scotland, the troupe accepted an invitation to perform in Paris and Catlin gladly moved the Indian Gallery across the channel. Their debut was received with rave reviews and they were invited to perform for King Louis Philippe and the royal family at the Tuileries. Catlin's paintings were a huge success in Paris and they were admired by such notables as George Sand, Charles Baudelaire, Alexander von Humboldt, and Prosper Merimee. During the late summer of 1845 the Ioway troupe returned to America and were replaced by a group of touring Ojibwa Indians.
This extremely rare lithograph is the only image to depict Catlin's Ioway's while they performed in Paris. It was published in two versions. One with a Boston imprint and the title in English including the names of the individuals depicted; the second with a Paris imprint and the title in French with no mention of the names. The troupe originally consisted of fourteen men, women, and children, but tragically two died while they were touring Ireland and Scotland. Consisting of three chiefs, five warriors, and six squaws the group was accompanied by their translator Jeffrey Doraway and by their promoter G. H. C. Melody. An invaluable record of Ioway history this rare print is a wonderful piece of early Americana.
The names of the Ioway troupe are listed below:
Mew-hu-she-kaw, White Cloud, first chief of the nation
Neu-mon-ya, Walking Rain, third chief
Se-non-ty-yah, Blister Feet; great medicine man
Wash-ka-mon-ya, Fast Dancer
No-ho-mun-ya, One who gives no attention
Shon-ta-yi-ga, Little Wolf
Wa-tan-ye, One always foremost
Wa-ta-we-bu-ka-na, Commanding General, the son of Walking Rain, ten years old
Jeffrey Doraway (Dorion, omitted)
Ruton-ye-we-ma, Strutting Pigeon, White Cloud's Wife
Ruton-we-me, Pigeon on the Wing
Oke-we-me, Female Bear that walks on the back of another
Koon-za-ya-me, Female War Eagle Sailing
Ta-pa-ta-me, Sophia, wisdom, White Cloud's daughter
Corsair, a papoose
G.H. C. Melody
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#13363 $9,500.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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