Exhibition of Indian Tribal Ceremonies at the Olympic Theater, Philadelphia
1811–ca. 1813
Medium
Watercolor, gouache, and graphite on white laid paper
Dimensions
7 1/16 x 9 1/4 in. (17.9 x 23.5 cm)
Classification
Watercolor
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1942
Accession Number
42.95.28
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 19th century, Philadelphia buzzed with curiosity about Native American cultures amid America's westward expansion. This delicate watercolor, *Exhibition of Indian Tribal Ceremonies at the Olympic Theater, Philadelphia* (1811–ca. 1813), captures a theatrical spectacle where performers reenacted tribal rituals for urban audiences. Attributed to American genre painter John Lewis Krimmel and Russian diplomat-artist Pavel Petrovich Svinin—who visited the U.S. during this period—the work reflects cross-cultural exchanges and the era's fascination with indigenous traditions, often romant...
About the Artist
John Lewis Krimmel|Pavel Petrovich Svinin (Russian|American) · 1787 |1786 –1839 |1821
1787/88–1839|1786–1821