Scalp dance of the Dacotahs

Eastman, Seth (1808-1875)

Item type:

drawing

Date of creation:

1850

Height:

22.0 cm  (8 11/16 in.)

Width:

30.5 cm  (12 in.)

Technique / Medium:

watercolor on paper

Description

This Native American Indian scene is one of many illustrations that Eastman contributed to the six-volume, government-supported, study of U.S. Indian life by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. The watercolor drawing includes a group of musicians (with drums and end-blown wind instruments), dancers (two of whom hold scalps atop tall poles), and observers.

Description from museum website:
Seated musicians left, dancers center, before tepees. Mountains in distance. Engraved by S. Burt for H.R. Schoolcraft

Iconclass

32B342(...)
Red Indians, American Indians (Dakota)
12R213
making music and dancing ~ American Indian religions
12B213
ritual music and dancing ~ non-Christian religions
48CC753
more than one musician with instrument - CC - 'concert champêtre'
43C94
group dancing

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Cylindrical drum [2532] (three sizes, with beaters)
End-blown flute [3940] (two sizes)

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Bibliographic references

Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe. Historical and statistical information regarding the history, conditions, and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States (six volumes), illustrated by Seth Eastman (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1851–1857).

RIdIM record id

5889