Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952)
View Artist Biography
Title:
Plate 107 An Assiniboin Camp
Date:
1908
Size:
Portfolio, 18 x 22 inches
Medium:
Vintage Photogravure
Provenance:
Private Collector | Mrs. Cunningham, CA
With this photogravure, was a letter written by Edward Curtis to Robert Quarles Sr. (first state archivist of Tennessee) asking if Robert thought the photos were worthy of being published in a bound version.
In the 1800s, Robert T. Quarles Sr. was a worker in the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Family lore says he was a "janitor" but that is uncertain. At one point, the Tennessee Capitol Building experienced a flood and Quarles went to heroic lengths to save documents housed in the basement of the building. As an expression of gratitude, Quarles was then named "Archivist" for the State of Tennessee. Upon his retirement, Robert Quarles passed the position down to his son, Robert T. Quarles Jr.
Robert T. Quarles, Jr. took an enormous interest in Native American history and culture, and he was a member of a group called "The Loyal Order of the Red Man". Robert Quarles Jr. -- or possibly his sister Mary Ashby -- acquired one of the Curtis portfolios as a gift directly from Edward Curtis himself. Mary and her husband, Jeff Ashby, were enthusiastic collectors of artifacts and art from all over the world.
The Ashby's were childless and when they passed away, the Curtis photogravures went to the three nephews of Robert Quarles Jr. in equal parts. These works were then passed down to their descendants, who are the previous owners of this artwork.
Private Collector | Mrs. Cunningham, CA
With this photogravure, was a letter written by Edward Curtis to Robert Quarles Sr. (first state archivist of Tennessee) asking if Robert thought the photos were worthy of being published in a bound version.
In the 1800s, Robert T. Quarles Sr. was a worker in the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Family lore says he was a "janitor" but that is uncertain. At one point, the Tennessee Capitol Building experienced a flood and Quarles went to heroic lengths to save documents housed in the basement of the building. As an expression of gratitude, Quarles was then named "Archivist" for the State of Tennessee. Upon his retirement, Robert Quarles passed the position down to his son, Robert T. Quarles Jr.
Robert T. Quarles, Jr. took an enormous interest in Native American history and culture, and he was a member of a group called "The Loyal Order of the Red Man". Robert Quarles Jr. -- or possibly his sister Mary Ashby -- acquired one of the Curtis portfolios as a gift directly from Edward Curtis himself. Mary and her husband, Jeff Ashby, were enthusiastic collectors of artifacts and art from all over the world.
The Ashby's were childless and when they passed away, the Curtis photogravures went to the three nephews of Robert Quarles Jr. in equal parts. These works were then passed down to their descendants, who are the previous owners of this artwork.