Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

McKenney & Hall
Billy Bowlegs, Seminole: Framed Original McKenney, Hall Hand-colored Lithograph

1865

$5,375
£4,061.71
€4,690.28
CA$7,510.75
A$8,333.81
CHF 4,365.43
MX$102,194.90
NOK 55,526.76
SEK 52,414.89
DKK 34,978.35
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This a framed original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Billy Bowlegs, A Seminole Chief", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This is a very rare McKenney & Hall lithograph since it was not included in the earlier editions and is only found in the 1865 and 1870 editions, in which it was used as the frontispiece of volume 2 of McKenney and Hall's "History of the Indian Tribes of North America, with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principal Chiefs. Embellished with One Hundred Portraits from the Indian Gallery in the War Department at Washington". Chief Billy Bowlegs (c. 1810-1859), also known as Billy Bolek, as well as by his Seminole name, Halpuda Mikko, which means "Alligator Chief", was a leader of the Seminoles in Florida during the Second and Third Seminole Wars against the United States. He was one of the last Seminole leaders to surrender, living out the remainder of his life in what was then called Indian Territory, which now represents Oklahoma. This original McKenney and Hall lithograph is presented in an antique ornate wood frame with a marbled brown-colored concave portion, black trim bands and highlighted by a gold-colored inner fillet-like portion and a gold-colored ribbed outer section, and a cream colored mat. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. All mounting materials are archival. The frame measures 17.5" high by 14.63" wide by 1.5" deep. The sheet measures 10.63" high by 7.38" wide. There is minimal faint discoloration at the edge of the lower right margin, but the print is otherwise in excellent condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis, who sketched those willing to participate. A large number of the most influential Indian chiefs and warriors were later invited to come to Washington in 1821 to meet President Monroe. McKenney commissioned the prominent portrait painter Charles Bird King, who had a studio in the capital, to paint these native American leaders, who chose the costumes they wished to wear for the sitting. The magnificent resultant paintings were displayed in the War Department until 1858, and were then moved to the Smithsonian Institute. When Andrew Jackson dismissed McKenney in 1830, he gave him permission to have the King portraits as well as some by other artists, including George Catlin and James Otto Lewis, copied and made into lithographs, in both folio and octavo sizes. McKenney partnered with James C. Hall, a Cincinnati judge and novelist to publish the lithographs and the text written by Hall. The work was extremely expensive to create and nearly bankrupted McKenney, as well as the two printing firms who invested in its publication. The resultant work gained importance when Catlin's paintings were destroyed in a warehouse fire and Charles Bird King's and James Otto Lewis’ portraits were destroyed in the great Smithsonian Museum fire of 1865. The McKenney and Hall portraits remain the most complete and colorful record of these pre-Civil War Native American leaders. The folio and smaller octavo sized hand painted lithographs remain prized by collectors and institutions, many of which are held by major museums and collections, including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute.
  • Creator:
  • Creation Year:
    1865
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 14.63 in (37.17 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: #16851stDibs: LU117327033492

More From This Seller

View All
Tuko-See-Mathla, A Seminole Chief: A Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithograph of a Native American entitled "Tuko-See-Mathla, A Seminole Chief, No. 106", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. For his portrait, painted by Charles Bird King, Tuko-See-Mathla wore a colorful outfit, primarily of red and blue with tassels and a matching headdress, a necklace including his presidential peace medal, two metallic bands on each arm, beautiful high moccasin boots and he carries a rifle. He appears to be standing in a desert landscape. This original beautifully hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithograph is presented in a cream colored mat (adhered at the top), suitable for framing with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" x 11.75" and the sheet measures 10.63" x 7.38. There is one tiny spot in the lower portion of the left and right margins and minimal discoloration at the left and right edges (obscured by the mat), but the print is otherwise in excellent condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Chittee-Yoholo, Seminole Chief: Original Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand colored McKenney and Hall engraving of a Native American entitled "Chittee-Yoholo, A Seminole Chief, No. 76", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This original McKenney and Hall engraving is presented in a cream colored mat, suitable for framing, with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" x 11.75" and the sheet measures 10.63" x 7.38. The print is in excellent condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis, who sketched those willing to participate. A large number of the most influential Indian chiefs and warriors were later invited to come to Washington in 1821 to meet President Monroe. McKenney commissioned the prominent portrait painter Charles Bird King...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

Foke-Luste-Hajo, Seminole Chief: Antique Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithograph of a Native American entitled "Foke-Luste-Hajo, A Seminole Chief, No. 84", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Wa-Kawn, A Winnebago Chief: Folio-sized Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-size McKenney and Hall lithograph of a Native American entitled "Wa-Kawn, A Winnebago Chief", after a painting by Charles Bird Kin...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Engraving

Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An ioway Chief: Original Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithograph of a Native American entitled "Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An Ioway Chief ",...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An Ioway Chief: Original Hand-colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithograph of a Native American entitled "Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An Ioway Chief, No. 91", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This original McKenney and Hall lithograph is presented in a cream-colored mat, suitable for framing with a protective clear sleeve. The mat measures 13.88" x 11.75" and the sheet measures 10.63" x 7.38. There is a spot in the lower left margin and tiny faint spots in the periphery, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. Col. Thomas J. McKenney was Superintendant of The Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830. He was one of a very few government officials to defend American Indian interests and attempt to preserve their culture. He travelled to Indian lands meeting the Native American leaders. He brought with him an accomplished artist, James Otto Lewis...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

You May Also Like

McKenney and Hall Hand-Painted Lithograph "Chippeway Widow", circa 1837
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Chippeway Widow" hand-painted color lithograph on paper depicts a Native American Indian woman lamenting the death of her husband, presum...
Category

Antique 1830s Native American Prints

Materials

Paper

Large Hand-Colored Antique Print of Qua-Ta-Wa-Pea, a Shawnee Chief, circa 1838
Located in Langweer, NL
The Shawnee Sentinel: Qua-Ta-Wa-Pea, A Chief of Poise and Peace A hand-colored lithograph of Qua-Ta-Wa-Pea, also known as Leatherlips, a respected leader of the Shawnee tribe. This ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Large Hand-Colored Antique Print of Pa-She-Pa-Haw, a Sauk Chief, circa 1838
Located in Langweer, NL
The Resolute Guardian: Pa-She-Pa-Haw, A Sauk Chief This lithograph is of Pa-She-Pa-Haw, a leader of the Sauk tribe, also known as the Sac or 'The Stabbing Chief'. The artwork is der...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Sauk Chief by Prichard, 1843
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Muck-A-Tah-Mish-O-Kah-Kaik'. Lithograph of a Sauk Chief. The Sac or Sauk are a group of Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands culture group, who lived prima...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

19th century color lithograph indigenous portrait figure feathers bison red
By McKenney & Hall
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Kish-Ke-Kosh, A Fox Brave (Sauk-Fox)" is an original hand-colored lithograph by McKenney & Hall. This piece features a Native American man. Reference: Page 200 of The North American Indian Portfolios in the Library of Congress. 13 1/4" x 9 3/4" art 27 1/4" x 22 3/8" frame American lithograph publishers. Most well-known for "History of the Indian Tribes of North America," a collection of 125 images that included biographical sketches and anecdotes of principal chiefs. Thomas Loraine McKenney (1785-1859) served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs from 1824 to 1830. In that capacity he commissioned and collected portraits of Native Americans...
Category

1830s Academic Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Large Antique Print of Chono Ca Pe, an Otoe Chief, circa 1838
Located in Langweer, NL
Steward of the Plains: Chono Ca Pe, An Otoe Chief This is a hand-colored lithograph of Chono Ca Pe, an Otoe (often spelled Ottoe) Chief, taken from the "History of the Indian Tribes...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper