Details
Contributor Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, ill.
Title Sacred Sun, ca. 1809-1835 or 6.
Alternate title Mo-Hon-Go, an Osage woman.
Publisher Philada. : Drawn, printed, coloured & published by J. T. Bowen.
Date [1848?]
Physical description 1 print : lithograph (hand-colored) ; 21.6 x 14.7 cm.
Description Waist-length portrait of Sacred Sun, seated, wearing metal and beaded necklaces and earrings, and holding a child on her lap.
Notes In McKenney, T.L. and J. Hall. History of the Indian tribes of North America, v.1 (Philadelphia, 1848), plate opposite p. 29. Also in 1836-1844 and 1838-1844 editions.
Sacred Sun, also known as Mohongo, was one of seven members of the Osage tribe taken to Europe as "curiosities" for public exhibition. After their return to America, Mohongo visited Washington, D.C. and met various members of the government.
"Perhaps when circumstances of embarassment, or perplexing objects of curiosity, were presented, the superior tact and flexibility of the female mind became apparent, and her companions learned to place a higher estimation upon her character, than is usually awarded by the Indian to the weaker sex. Escaped from servile labor, she had leisure to think. New objects were continually placed before her eye; admiration and curiosity were often awakened in her mind; its latent faculties were excited, and that beautiful system of association which forms the train of rational thought, became connected and developed. Mahongo was no longer the drudge of a savage hunter, but his friend. Such are the inferences which seem to be fairly deductible, when contrasting the agreeable expression of this countenance, with the stolid lineaments of other females of the same race."--P. 32.
Genre Portrait prints -- 1840-1849.
Lithographs -- 1840-1849.
Subject Sacred Sun, ca. 1809-1835 or 6 -- Portraits.
Indian women -- North America.
Indians of North America.
Osage Indians.
Women.
Is part of Portraits of American Women
Has format TMP.objres.7439.jpg