Walker or Wah-kara (1815-1855)
Ute Chief
Sketched by William Warner Major, 1852
Writing on bottom left: Sketch of Walker, Wm
Chief of the UTAH'S. Rocky Mountains.
Writing on bottom right: Taken from Life by W.W. Major
Sitting in Council Sept 4 1852
Walker c1852 (41-72-10/427) Peabody Museum, Harvard University
Medium:
Dimensions:
Watercolor on paper
27.2cm x 24.3cm (10 11/16" x 9 9/16"), Accurate
Owner: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Massachusetts
This is the same the "Joseph Walker" painting that was loaned Fredrick Hawkins Piercy to copy for his book, shown below.
When William Major departed from his mission to England from New York in 1853, he sold the paintings for goods or money to live and travel.
Joseph Walker and Arapeen 1854 Deseret News Article advertising Route From Liverpool
Location: Printed in book, Route from Liverpool to Great Salt Lake Valley
Description: Portraits of the Ute Indians, Chief Joseph Walker and his brother Arapeen.
History: A sketch was made by Frederick Hawkins Piercy from the original pictures which were then in the possession of W.W. Major. This drawing was published in Piercy’s book, Route from Liverpool to Great Salt Lake Valley, with this explanation: "The late Joseph Walker, one of the leading chiefs of the Utahs, was generally very friendly to the L.D. Saints, and so also is Arapeen, his successor. We here introduce their portraits sketched from a painting in possession of the late Elder W.W. Major."44
Copyright Jill C. Major