Collections record Beta

Collection Record Detail

Object Name

Lithograph - Wi-Jun-John

Object Number

1925-07-8

Description

Painting - Smithsonian Institution pg 56 pencil sketch (image reversed) of return, Newberry Library Chicago p39 figure at left in tribal press capitol in background. Right strutting figure in blue army uniform wearing white gloves, umbrella in one hand fan in the other. Sword (which does not appear in painting) between legs tall silk hat with cockade, cigarette in mouth, bottles protruding from back pockets. Clearly shows corrupting influence of white man. From "Letters & Notes on theManners, Customs and Condition of the North American Indians" by George Catlin, p100-101: "I have painted the portrait of a very distinguished young man, and son of the chief; his dress is a very handsome one . . . The name of this man is Wi-Jun-Jun (the pigeon's egg head) and by the side of him is the portrait of his wife, Chin-cha-pee (the firebug that creeps) . . . I traveled with this gentleman on the steamer Yellow Stone; and saw him step ashore with a complete suit en militaire, a colonel's uniform of blue, presented to him by the President of the United States, with a beaver hat and feather, with epouilettes of gold, with sash and belt, and broad sword, with high heeled boots, with a keg of whiskey under his arm and an umbrella in his hand."