Inspired by - Charles Bird King - Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri and Pawnees
Between 1820 and 1842 Charles King painted some 143 of the most famous paintings of American Indian chiefs. This was when they were still at the peak of their glory and reflected the full flowering of their people's culture. The portraits were commissioned by Thomas McKenney, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. King would paint the chiefs in his downtown studio, when they came to Washington to do business with the department.
Chief War Eagle wears a Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. This was a sign of great status for an Indian and worn at all formal events. Americans as well as Europeans gave out peace metals as far back as the 1600’s. The Jefferson Indian Peace Medal was the first medal to bear the image of an American president. Thomas Jefferson was depicted in profile on the obverse of the medal, with the inscription: "TH. JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. A.D. 1801." The inscription on the reverse, "PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP," was symbolized by the image of clasped hands and a crossed tomahawk and peace pipe. Federal officials distributed medals when traveling through Indian territories. Lewis and Clark gave out about 87 metals on their expedition. In 1804, a dozen Osage chiefs arrived in Washington City. They were the first to make the long trip at the invitation of Captains Lewis and Clark. They were the first Native chiefs that Jefferson would meet and present with this metal. See original: bit.ly/3fXSerk