Karl Bodmer, (February 6, 1809-October 30, 1893), was a Swiss painter of the American West. He accompanied German explorer Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied in 1832 through 1834 on his Missouri River expedition. He was hired as an artist by Maximilian with the specific intent of traveling through the American West and recording images of the different tribes they saw along the way. When the expedition was complete, he returned to Germany with Prince Maximilian, then traveled to France. In Paris he had many scenes from the expedition (81 total) reproduced as aquatints. The Prince had these images incorporated into his book, Travels in the Interior of North America published in London in 1839. After returning to Europe, he lived in Barbizon, France, where he became a French citizen. At that point he changed his name to "Charles Bodmer". Today the majority of his originals are located in three collections spread across the United States, with the majority of them located at the Joselyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This article is for the American West. ... Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1782 - 1867) was a German explorer. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Missouri River and its tributaries N.P. Dodge Park, Omaha, Nebraska High silt content makes the Missouri (left) noticably lighter than the Mississipi here at their confluence above St. ... The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Barbizon is a village near Fontainebleau Forest, France for which the Barbizon school of painters is named. ...
Fort Pierre and the adjacent prairie Detail of lithograph of painting of Fort Pierre (South Dakota) and Adjacent Prairie by Karl Bodmer from U.S. National Archives. ...
KarlBodmer was only 23 years old when he agreed to accompany the German explorer and naturalist, Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian of Weid, on a 5,000-mile journey up the Missouri River to document the Plains Indians tribes of North America.
Born in Zurich and classically trained in drawing, painting and engraving, Bodmer produced a series of beautiful watercolors of tribal warriors, women and chiefs in full regalia, was parties and the hunt that today are considered to be the finest paintings ever made of an aboriginal culture.
Bodmer was privileged to see the West in all its pristine glory, before successive waves of settlers irrevocable altered the face of the land and its original inhabitants.
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