The Lost Greenhorn. Alfred Jacob Miller (1810-1874)
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| Dover Publications. Inc.Mineola, New York. 120 Paintings of the Great American West |
Miller accompanied a caravan taking supplies to fur traders. While there he heard about the caravan's cook who became lost on the prairie when he set out alone to go buffalo hunting.
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Alfred Jacob Miller was born in Baltimore, Maryland where he attended public schools and hoped to become a painter. He painted on his own at the beginning but felt he needed more training and in 1833 he went to Europe, traveling to Paris, Bologna,Venice and Switzerland as well. He studied in France from 1833-1834 and Italy.
After opening a studio in New Orleans, he met Captain William Drummond Stewart, a Scottish aristocrat and British Army officer who engaged Miller into accompanying him on a trip to the Rocky Mountains in 1837 where he would make sketches that could later be turned into oil paintings for Stewart's castle in Scotland.
Besides the sketches of mountain men, Indians, he also sketched fur traders. He was the only artist to record the era of the fur traders. These sketches, later oil paintings, were not intended for public display, but for the personal enjoyment of Stewart. Miller lived in Stewart's castle for two years while completing his commission.
Miller then settled in Baltimore, did well doing portraits and other art. He died in 1874.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Jacob_Miller.
That's a nice painting but it looks like a huge man on a tiny horse. Like if he put his feet out of the stirrup he'd touch the ground. lol
ReplyDeleteSee comment below. The whole story must have intrigued the artist.
DeleteAnother interesting mini-bio! As for that little horse...!
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the little horse. Is that the only horse they would let the camp cook take, not a valuable one? I understand that buffalo would attack horses. As to the fate of the camp cook?
DeleteI was wondering what happened to the cook and also was puzzled about the seemingly small horse. The horse looks somewhat overwhelmed anyway. Love the painting anyway. Have those Scottish pictures ever been released to the public or are they still tucked away?
ReplyDeleteThe paintings after Stewart died, and after some controversy over the estate, were sold at auction, and found their way back to America where they are in public and private collections. Stewart's own story is fascinating. Might do something about it later. Thanks for the question, Jo.
ReplyDeleteI am sure there are at least six inches of horse leg we can't see. That, I realise, would only make it taller and not bigger! It looks like we are back with the romantic vision of the West here but the picture is very likeable and tells a strong story.
ReplyDelete(Not listening to anything right now. It's 5.45am and there's a brilliant crescent moon low in a cloudless sky as the dawn is breaking. Quite beautiful.)
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Prairie grass could be quite long. And you are right, back to the romantic vision of the West. So, you are an early riser. Mornings are best.
DeleteHi Nat - interesting that Miller painted fur traders .. and I wonder if the Stewart paintings stayed in the Castle .. or are on loan and show somewhere ..
ReplyDeleteI've just heard a talk about Captain Cook's artists as he was on his explorative sailing voyages .... so important for us in the years to the future .. I expect Miller's work was too and we've learnt much from him ...
Cheers Hilary
See comment to Jo's question. At least many of them are here in various collections. Interesting to me that he, Stewart, wanted them only for himself.
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