ARTIST: Hodges D Soileau (Louisiana, Florida, born 1943)
NAME: Pontiac
YEAR: 1981
MEDIUM: oil on board
CONDITION: Very good. No visible inpaint under UV light.
SIGHT SIZE: 14 x 12 inches / 35 x 30 cm
BOARD SIZE: 19 x 18 inches / 48 x 45 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting appeared on the Fleetwood Pontiac Commemorative Cover postmarked April 27, 1981. Tall, proud, and eloquent, Pontiac was one of the few Indian leaders who succeeded in uniting many diverse tribes to resist European encroachment upon their lands. His birth year was approximately 1720, somewhere on the Maumee River in what is now Ohio. His father was an Ottawa, his mother probably Chippewa (Ojibwa). Pontiac was a shrewd persuader, a warrior with a natural aura of command. By the time he was in his early thirties, Pontiac was head chief of three Ottawa villages near Detroit. Because of his people's fur trading tie with the French, he supported them against the English when the latter began invading their territory. Ottawas joined in the attack upon General Braddock's column, and Pontiac probably led them in that historic ambush of July 9, 1755. After the English began building forts and settlements in Ottawa country, and instituted a policy of extermination, Pontiac called a war council of all affected tribes on April 27, 1763. Early in May the Indians attacked fifteen military posts, destroying twelve. Pontiac failed, however, to take the strategic post at Detroit. After laying siege to the fort for many months, waiting in vain for assistance from the French, he learned that France had signed a peace treaty with England. On August 17, he made peace at Detroit, and on July 25, 1766, signed a treaty at Oswego, New York. While he was visiting Cahokia, Illinois, in an attempt to unite the tribes of the Mississippi Valley, he was murdered April 20, 1769.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation (has original gallery label on verso)
CATEGORY: antique vintage painting
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BIOGRAPHY:
Hodges Soileau is a native of southwest Louisiana. The "Cajun accent is all but gone from living in different parts of the country for so many years, but his cultural ties are strong and deep. Hodges left Louisiana after graduation from the University of Southwestern University in pursuit of his art. That journey took him first to Texas and then to Connecticut. He had a successful illustration career that lasted twenty five years. His art graced the covers of more than three-hundred book covers. He worked for most of the major publishing houses in New York. Hodges was a twenty-three year member of the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York. During this time, he received many citations of merit for work exhibited in annual shows. He was selected to do the painting for the twenty ninth call for entries and chaired the thirty fifth annual exhibition. After twenty-five years of executing ideas and concepts of others, he now paints subjects that are of interest to him. Hodges has had five one-man shows, and has participated in numerous group shows. Most recently; first place in the T.S.A.A. juried exhibition in Tarpon Springs 1997, the Artist Magazine 2001 Art Competition Finalist, the Artist Magazine 2002 Art Competition finalist. His work hangs in private collections as well as the United States Air Force and U. S. Coast Guard permanent collections. The permanent collection of Golf Digest Magazine includes several of his paintings. Hodges is a member of the Oil Painters of AmericaHe does most of his work in a studio, but he manages to get outdoors once a week with a few artist friends to paint field sketches. He finds Plein Air painting personally beneficial and essential to his growth of as an artist. At the very least, he thinks it is loads of fun and plans to continue to paint outdoors as often as he can get out, whether it be Florida or Maine, where he spends a month each summer. Hodges and his wife, Marilyn, presently reside in Venice, Florida.