Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Lithograph |
Title |
Capture of the Boone and Callaway Girls |
Catalog Number |
1939.658 |
Creator |
Millet, Jean Francois |
Date |
ca. 1852 |
Material(s) |
Paper/Ink |
Dimensions |
H-14 W-19.5 inches |
Description |
This is a black and white lithograph. The scene depicts a group of Shawnee kidnapping Daniel Boone's daughter, Jemima, and Betsey and Fanny Callaway along the Kentucky River near Fort Boonesborough in July 1776. The attributed artists are Jean Francois Millet and Karl Bodmer. The painting shows a river running through deep forest. To the left of the picture, there are two Shawnee approaching a boat, one from the water. The three girls in the boat are alarmed, one with her hands at her head and one holding tightly onto the other. |
Notes |
Karl Bodmer was commissioned by the firm of Goupil to do a series of lithographs in 1851 for the Paris and New York markets. Bodmer was said to turn to his friend Millet who had produced four crayon drawings on the subject, also in 1851. Yale University is said to have the drawings, or at least one of them. Bodmer produced four lithographs. A letter in our accession files says that in 1889, Bodmer sold the four lithographs to G.A. Lucus and annotated them with the statement that Millet had done the figures, which indicates that Millet had a hand in the lithographs. Others speculate that the lithographs were totally Millet's work, as they are so similar to his original drawings. The accession file indicates that the oil paintings in KHS collection are attributed to Millet. One letter says they were painted in 1859 in Barbazonne, France where Millet did many of his paintings. Another letter documents that the canvas marks prove it was purchased and stretched by Goupil & Co. and painted after 1854. The capture and rescue happened in 1776, but the incidents did not become part of popular knowledge until Filson's book in 1784-- especially after a 1786 pirated edition by John Trumball sold extensively in North America and Europe. The Boone legend didn't attract commercial artists until well into the nineteenth century. |
Collection |
KHS Museum Collection |
People |
Bodmer, Karl Millet, Jean Francois Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820 Callaway, Betsey Callaway, Frances Callaway, Jemima Boone, 1762-1834 |
Subjects |
Native Americans Kidnappings Frontier & pioneer life Rivers Girls Daughters |
Search Terms |
Kentucky River (Ky.) |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |