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Catalog Data

Artist:
Charles Loring Elliott, 12 Oct 1812 - 25 Aug 1868  Search this
Sitter:
Thomas Loraine McKenney, 21 Mar 1785 - 20 Feb 1859  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
Frame: 77.5 x 64.8cm (30 1/2 x 25 1/2")
Type:
Painting
Date:
1856
Exhibition Label:
Born Hopewell, Maryland
Thomas L. McKenney implemented early governmental policies affecting Native Americans as superintendent of Indian trade (1816–22) and founding superintendent of Indian affairs (1824–30). While in office, McKenney commissioned paintings of Native diplomats by portraitist Charles Bird King. This effort eventually led him to compile the three-volume History of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836–44), which features lithographs of King’s portraits accompanied by biographical sketches by McKenney and his collaborator, James Hall.
Despite his interest in the history of Native Americans, McKenney sought for them to assimilate into Euro-American culture through Christian education. He also helped secure the passage of the Indian Civilization Fund Act (1819) and, more ominously, the Indian Removal Act (1830), which confiscated Indian lands and forced Indigenous nations to relocate west of the Mississippi. When McKenney blamed President Andrew Jackson for the brutality of the Trail of Tears, Jackson fired him for insubordination.
Nacido en Hopewell, Maryland
Como superintendente de Comercio Indígena (1816-22) y primer superintendente de Asuntos Indígenas (1824-30), Thomas L. McKenney implantó varias de las primeras políticas gubernamentales que afectaron a los nativos americanos. Durante su mandato, McKenney encargó pinturas de diplomáticos nativos al retratista Charles Bird King. Esta gestión lo motivó luego a compilar los tres volúmenes de la Historia de las tribus indígenas de Norteamérica (1836–44), con litografías de los retratos de King y notas biográficas escritas por él y su colaborador James Hall.
Pese a su interés en la historia de los nativos americanos, McKenney deseaba asimilarlos a la cultura euroamericana mediante la educación cristiana. También alentó la aprobación de la Ley del Fondo para la Civilización de los Indios (1819) y luego la horrible Ley de Traslado Forzoso de los Indios (1830), que confiscó tierras de las naciones indígenas y las forzó a reubicarse al oeste del Misisipi. Cuando McKenney culpó al presidente Andrew Jackson por la crueldad del llamado Sendero de Lágrimas, este lo despidió por insubordinación.
Provenance:
James C. McGuire; bequest to Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1888; deaccessioned 2010 and sold (Christie’s 31 August-1 September 2010, lot 18); purchased NPG
Topic:
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie  Search this
Thomas Loraine McKenney: Male  Search this
Thomas Loraine McKenney: Politics and Government  Search this
Thomas Loraine McKenney: Education and Scholarship\Scholar\Anthropologist\Ethnologist  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; frame conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee
Object number:
NPG.2011.62
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition:
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View:
NPG, East Gallery 132
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4ab610ffc-09d9-48ff-b197-35491ebf4b13
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.2011.62