The Red Man's Bones

George Catlin, Artist and Showman

De: Benita Eisler

Narrado por: John McLain

The first biography in over 60 years of a great American artist whose paintings are more famous than the man who made them.

George Catlin has been called the "first artist of the West", as none before him lived among and painted the Native American tribes of the Northern Plains. After a false start as a painter of miniatures, Catlin found his calling: to fix the image of a "vanishing race" before their "extermination" - his word - by a government greedy for their lands. In the first six years of the 1830s, he created over 600 portraits - unforgettable likenesses of individual chiefs, warriors, braves, squaws, and children belonging to more than 30 tribes living along the upper Missouri River.

Political forces thwarted Catlin’s ambition to sell what he called his "Indian Gallery" as a national collection, and in 1840 the artist began three decades of self-imposed exile abroad. For a time, his exhibitions and writings made him the most celebrated American expatriate in London and Paris. He was toasted by Queen Victoria and breakfasted with King Louis-Philippe, who created a special gallery in the Louvre to show his pictures. But when he started to tour "live" troupes of Ojibbewa and Iowa, Catlin and his fortunes declined: He changed from artist to showman, and from advocate to exploiter of his native performers. Tragedy and loss engulfed both.

This brilliant and humane portrait brings to life George Catlin and his Indian subjects for our own time. An American original, he still personifies the artist as a figure of controversy, torn by conflicting demands of art and success.

©2013 Benita Eisler (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Live like you want!

After hearing this narration of his life I feel like George could be a friend. Many of lessons here about life! Be happiest living your passions not just chasing money!

Good read about a man I knew little about

Well researched story, not an easy flowing book but worth reading for the information and interesting details.

Hating on Catlin. Disappointing.

Benita implies that Catlin was a lier,a homosexual, and crook. Only out for himself. Somethings about his later life I did not know, but overall disappointing. Bashing a man who is long dead.