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Chinook Indian Columbia River by Alfred Jacob Miller (American, 1810-1874) Walters Art Gallery
In July 1858 William T. Walters commissioned 200 watercolors at $12 apiece from Baltimore born artist Alfred Jacob Miller. These paintings were each accompanied by a descriptive text, & were delivered in installments over the next 21 months & ultimately were bound in 3 albums of field-sketches drawn during the 1837 expedition that Miller had undertaken to the annual fur-trader's rendezvous in the Green River Valley (in what is now western Wyoming).
William T. Walters (1820-1894) was a prominent American businessman, philanthropist, & art collector in the 19C. He was known for his successful career in the railroad industry, specifically with the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad.
Walters amassed a substantial fortune through his business ventures, which allowed him to pursue his passion for art collecting. Upon his death in 1894, Walters bequeathed his extensive art collection, along with significant funds, to the city of Baltimore. This collection formed the basis of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, which remains a renowned institution housing a diverse array of art spanning thousands of years & various cultures.
