AUBURN.- Acclaimed for his portraits of the socially prominent and the privileged, Henry Inman (American, 1801–1846) gained equal renown as an exacting chronicler of American Western history, primarily through his replicas of a series of North American Indian portraits.

Commissioned as faithful copies of earlier works by Charles Bird King and others, Inman’s oil paintings served as the models from which an important portfolio of lithographic reproductions were drawn and printed, thus preserving a significant record of Native American culture. The Indian Gallery of Henry Inman gathers 13 of Inman’s oil paintings, with a focus on distinguished Southeastern Creek and Cherokee leaders and warriors of the early 19th century.

Accompanied by several of the corresponding lithographs and beaded garments as comparisons to those depicted in the portraits, these remarkable paintings offer a compelling look at a pivotal moment in history.

The exhibition and related publication, with essays by
Dr. Kathryn H. Braund, were made possible through the generous support of Tom and Ann Cousins.