Seth Eastman
(1808-1875)

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Seth Eastman was an American artist, known for his depictions of Native American life. Eastman was born in Brunswick, Maine in 1808. Eastman joined the military at the young age of sixteen. Eastman studied at the West Point Military Academy. After graduating, Eastman was posted at Fort Snelling in Minnesota. Eastman took it upon himself to learn about Native American culture, particularly about the Sioux. Eastman painted and drew Native American communities and who lived along the upper Mississippi River.

In 1833 Eastman returned to West Point as an instructor. Eastman was able to use his skills as an artist while teaching a course in map drawing. Eastman taught for several years before returning to Fort Snelling as commander. Eastman continued to paint and learn about the Sioux culture.

Eastman painted a number of paintings for the United States Congress and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Eastman was later appointed to work alongside explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, illustrating Indian life. In total Eastman made nearly three hundred illustrations for Schoolcraft’s publication on Indian tribes.

Eastman continued to receive important commissions and was asked by the military to paint various forts. Some of Eastman’s paintings are know seen as controversial because he showed brutal scalpings and violence. Congress has since removed some of Eastman’s paintings from public view.

Eastman married Sacred Stands, the daughter of Sioux chief, Cloud Man. The marriage ended and in 1835 Eastman remarried Mary Henderson, the daughter of a West Point doctor. Eastman had many children and lived in Fort Snelling, continuously illustrating the Sioux for the publication of Dacotah, or Life and Legends of the Sioux Around Fort Snelling.

Seth Eastman’s work serves as an important record what life was like for the Sioux. Eastman’s work hangs in important national and private collections. Do you think you may own a painting by Seth Eastman? Contact us. We are the Eastman experts.