River Eau Sucre

  • An Indian family peers into a broad, well-watered valley. Cutting through that valley is the Sweetwater River which finds its source in the Wind River Mountains to the right. A group of mounted warriors approach from below. The whole scene seems gloomy as the sun sets into a cloudy haze to the west. The mood of the painting is one of reverie. A chord of thanatopsis prevails. Miller does not mention the temper of the work, but given the date of this and the accompanying study (CR# 196A), it is not far-fetched to suggest that Miller might have at least been pondering the fate of the western tribes.

    Peter H. Hassrick

    Artist
    Alfred Jacob Miller
    Date
    ca. 1858 – 1860
    Catalogue Number
    196
    Medium
    Watercolor on paper
    Inscriptions

    LC: AJMiller

    Dimensions
    8 11/16 x 12 1/4 (22.1 x 31.1 cm)
    Accession Number
    37.1940.97
    Subjects
    Indians, Sweet Water River, Wind River Mountains

    The artist; William T. Walters, Baltimore, MD; present owner by gift