PALETTE AND TOMAHAWK

This fictionalized biography contains the excitement that marks a good pioneer story and the pathos and tragedy that mark the personal life of George Catlin. At a time when most Americans were driving the Indians away, Catlin was trudging through the wilderness painting and sketching the American Indians. He grew to love the people ""who are honest without laws...who keep the commandments without ever having read them..who live and keep what is their own without locks and keys..."" Catlin's life was filled with hope and disappointment, happiness and tragedy. His paintings and collection of Indian lore were praised one day and ignored the next. He lived in hope that the national government would acclaim his work and through it achieve a better understanding of the Indian. he died in poverty crying, ""What will become of my Gallery!"" Robert Plate has created an interesting account of a man with knowing.