In 1853, the U.S. Army's topographic bureau set out to find the best transcontinental passages across the American West and scout routes for a railroad. The necessity of a passage from east to west coasts was growing more and more apparent as people headed to California in search of gold. Five survey teams were formed between 1853 and 1855: From Oklahoma to Los Angeles, St. Louis to San Francisco, Texas to Sand Diego, San Diego to Seattle, and St. Paul to the Puget Sound.
Beyond geographical analysis, the U.S. government saw an opportunity to document and collect data about the largely unexplored middle of the country. The teams recorded native plants and animals, depicted scenery, and captured the lives of the native peoples. Artists were hired to document the journey, capturing the events by camera or by hand.
The most prolific artist of the Pacific Railroad Survey was John Mix Stanley. Stanley accompanied the Isaac Stevens survey team from St. Paul to the Pacific Coast, creating several pieces featuring North Dakota.
Stanley was largely a self-taught artist, studying portraiture briefly in upstate New York and Detroit before striking out west to make his career. His style imitates another artist-explorer who came before him, George Catlin. Like Catlin, Stanley is known for his western scenes and portraits of the Native American tribes. Stanley traveled often to California and Oregon in the 1840s and 1850s, creating over 150 portraits of the Native peoples.
Stanley’s North Dakota scenes were created in July of 1853. On this date, the artist would likely have been found sketching on a hill, taking field notes, or preparing for the formal, finished pieces he would later make once they journey ended. He created scenes of trade at Fort Union, and pristine landscapes of river valleys and rolling grasslands – capturing moments soon lost to the oncoming railroad.
Stanley’s work with the Steven’s survey were published by the United States War Department from 1855 to 1860. He contributed more works than any other artists on the surveys. However, most of those works have not survived due to a fire at the Smithsonian in 1865, when his works were on display.
Stanley’s artwork reflects many 19th century misconceptions and stereotypes. However, they also portray a nation defining itself in a time of great change.
Dakota Datebook by Maria Witham
https://centerofthewest.org/2015/07/26/points-west-online-the-art-of-john-mix-stanley/
http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/digital/collection/dakota-lith/id/67/rec/6
https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/stanley_john_mix_1814_1872_/#.WzJJ3BJKhQJ
