Tippecanoe
County
Historical Association
Historical Association
George Winter
George Winter (1809-1876) was born in England. He frequented London's museums and galleries as a young man but apparently received no formal training in art. In 1830 Winter emigrated to New York where he studied for a short time at the National Academy of Design. In 1837, he arrived by a stagecoach in the frontier town of Logansport, Indiana, coming, as he said, "...to the Wabash for the purpose...of seeing and learning something of the Indians and exercising the pencil in the direction."
During his lifetime, Winter documented a vanishing culture. He obtained the confidence of the Miami and Potawatomi Indians and had unique opportunities to sketch them as an artist, but, like an historian, he kept accurate records and wrote prolifically about his paintings and the subjects and circumstances of his works.
An extensive collection of the works of George Winter was donated to the Tippecanoe County Historical Association in 1986 by Mrs. Cable G. Ball, the widow of Winter's great grandson. This gift to the Lafayette community includes manuscripts, letters, drawings, and paintings of this important 19th century artist.
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D-Mouche-Kee-Kee-Awh
Observed 1837; executed ca. 1863-71 |
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Indian Burial Kee-Waw-Nay Village 1837 Executed ca. 1863-71 |
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Potawatomi Camp Scene, Crooked Creek
The painting was created by the artist in late summer 1837 at a site near Logansport, Indiana. |
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Frances Slocum Observed 1839; executed ca. 1863-71 |
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Frances Slocum Portrait
Oil painting |
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Yo-Ca-Top-Kone Observed 1837; executed ca. 1863-71 |
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In collaboration with the Purdue University Libraries, a digital collection of George Winter's works and writings is available online at:
http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol/exhibits/winter.