Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Black Hawk" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Black Hawk Commemorative Cover postmarked April 10, 1982.

Black Hawk achieved fame as a warrior and an early follower of Tecumseh. He attempted to organize other tribes into an alliance to stop further settlement of the Illinois country. In the War of 1812 he sided with the British, and when that ended he refused to recognize the treaty which called for his tribe to move west of the Mississippi. After several years of uneasy peace between the Sauks and border settlers, the Illinois militia forced Black Hawk to move his people west of the river. Early in April 1832, he attempted to return to Illinois. On April 10, General Henry Atkinson discovered that Black Hawk had crossed the river with more than a thousand Sauks and Foxes -- warriors, old men, women and children. Although this was a migration rather than an armed invasion, General Atkinson and the settlers viewed the movement as hostile, and on that day began the Black Hawk War. Black Hawk routed the brigades of militia on May 14 and won other minor skirmishes, but was soundly defeated August 2, 1832, at the mouth of the Bad Axe in Wisconsin. He surrendered at Fort Crawford, and soon afterward the Sauks formally ceded all their lands to the United States. Black Hawk now became a celebrated prisoner of war. Several famous artists, including George Catlin and Charles Bird King, painted portraits of the chief. Washington Irving paid a visit, and described him as having "a fine head, a Roman style of face, and a prepossessing countenance." After his release he lived in Iowa, dying there October 3, 1838.

Image Size: 14.5 x 11.25 in.
Overall Size: 19.5 x 17.25 in.
Unframed.
(B07512)

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