Lot 483: Rare 19th c. Julien Historical Lithograph after W. Powell, Discovery of the Mississippi

Rare 19th c. lithograph based on a portion of THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI BY DE SOTO, the famous painting by William H. Powell commissioned for the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in the 1840s. This lithograph by Bernard Romain Julien (1802-1871) titled DE SOTO – ETUDE AUX DEUX CRAYONS NO. 4 LITHOGRAPHIEE PAR JULIEN D’APRES LE TABLEAU FAIT POUR LE GOUVERNEMENT DES ESTATS-UNIS is believed to have been published around 1854 and is one of only two or three examples known. It is printed on heavy gauge paper and signed in chalk “Julien” lower left, with number 4 printed lower right, and a printed cut paper label pasted to front lower center, “Lithograph par Julien / No. 47 d’apres W.H. Powell.”  Matted under glass in a molded, late 19th century wood frame. Sheet: 24 7/8 in H x 20 in. W. Frame: 32 1/2 in H x 24 in. W.  Note: Explorer Ferdinand de Soto was the first European to report seeing the Mississippi River. Powell’s painting depicted De Soto and his party approaching a Native American encampment at the water’s edge at a point below Natchez on May 8, 1541. In this lithograph, conveying just a small portion of the original, 18ft long painting, a Native American chief offers a peace pipe to de Soto while two others observe with differing expressions of surprise and disapproval. Powell’s painting caused an immediate sensation and was exhibited in Paris, where it met with critical acclaim. The Paris Correspondence of the N.T. Tribune of Aug. 15, 1853, reported that “it [the painting] has created an enthusiasm among the French critics unusually rare… They say it combines all the elements of perfection of a genuine historical painting – a result rarely attained. So great has been the enthusiasm that Jullien, the distinguished lithographer, immediately upon seeing it, offered Mr. Powell 500 francs for the privilege of lithographing four studies from it, to be sold to other artists…” However, only one scene from the painting has been discovered: the present image. And copies are extremely scarce. The present lithograph differs slightly from the other known extant copy we have seen in that it is hand colored with artist’s hand signature, and lacks the margin text with title and decorative border. That copy was sold by Barry Ruderman Antique Maps and is believed to be the same one sold at a French auction in 2015. The only other recorded example (of which no photographs have been previously published to our knowledge) seems to have been a copy given by Julien to Powell himself, as recorded in the National Academy of Design Exhibition Record 1826-1860, which reads: “262. Lithographic Study by Julien from Mr. Powell’s De Soto. Exhibited by the Print Maker and owned by W.H. Powell. 1855 Address: 45 East 22nd Street.”  The presence of what appears to be an exhibition number (47) on the hand cut front label and hand written “Julien” signature on the present example we are auctioning suggests it may be that same print. 

PROVENANCE: Found in a Florida estate. 

CONDITION: Toning with acid burn, taped to mat. A few scattered small scuffs. Light foxing to mostly lower half of the paper. Wear to frame.