Illustration of an Indigenous American Leader (Hendrick Theyanoguen)
Print, wood engraving on paper • Anonymous engraver for a commercial publishing house (likely Colton, Johnson, or Mitchell)
Style & Movement
Documentary Illustration / Victorian Neoclassicism
Medium & Technique
Wood engraving or line engraving on rag paper; characterized by fine cross-hatching and contour lines to create volume and texture.
Creation Period
Mid-19th Century (circa 1855)
Dimensions & Format
Rectangle; likely 4 x 6 inches within a larger atlas page or book plate.
Subject Description
A profile depiction of an indigenous man, often identified as Mohawk leader Hendrick Theyanoguen, wearing a feathered headdress, holding a celt-style axe, and gesturing upward. The costume reflects a blend of traditional and early colonial influence.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible age-toning and foxing consistent with 19th-century paper stock.
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 (as a single leaf plate)
Auction Estimate
$40 - $100
Provenance History
Likely extracted from a mid-19th century American atlas or geographical text such as 'Colton's General Atlas' (1855).
Art Historical Significance
Represents the mid-century American effort to document indigenous populations within commercial cartography and geographical texts during westward expansion. It illustrates the 'Noble Savage' trope prevalent in Victorian-era publications.
Notable Features
Fine engraving detail in the feathers and fabric; associated with topographic text that places the figure in a specific geographical context.
Condition Issues
Slight foxing (brown spotting), paper acidity/yellowing, and possible trimming of the margins from the original binding.
Conservation Recommendations
Mounting with acid-free materials, UV-protective glass, and climate-controlled storage to prevent further paper oxidation (browning).
Collector Notes
Image of indigenous American in ceremonial Regalia from atlas printed in 1855printed in 1855 during the California gold rush