Jacques-Victor-Eugène Froment-Delormel

Sale: Sotheby's, New York, 12 October 1994, lot 56;
Purchased by the present owner at the above sale

Paris, Salon de 1853, no. 499

Bellier-Auvray, Dictionnaire des Peintres de l'école Française, vol. I, 1882, p. 594

Original canvas. There may be a few old spots of cosmetic retouching though a proper reading of this is hindered by a fluorescing varnish. Apart from some craquelure and a few frame abrasions the paint surface is overall in good condition. Held in a plaster moulded gilt frame with an arched slip.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The subject of Froment-Delormel's painting and the appearance of native American genre in 19th Century European art in general was almost certainly spurred by American painter and chronicler George Catlin's 'Indian Gallery', whose European tour reached Paris in 1845. The collection of over 500 paintings and artefacts, which Catlin painted and amassed while living among indigenous communities in the 1830s, met with huge interest and acclaim among artists and the general public alike.