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Show 68 to such blatant inaccuracies, or whether the preliminary composition was simply unworkable, the only recognizable element that was later incorporated into the aquatint was that of the horse sketched into the upper right-hand corner. A second preparatory sketch for the vignette (Figure 3.2) is also part of the Newberry Library collection.15 This hastily drawn rendering was used by Manceau to construct the aquatint image. All of the basic elements that later appeared in the aquatint are evident in this sketch, though so roughly drawn that Manceau would have to rely upon information gleaned from Bodmer's portfolio and memory for detail. To the left of the image Maximilian and Bodmer stand ready to meet the group of Indians positioned on the right. Toussaint Charbonneau, resident of the fort and who had acted as interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition, introduces the travelers to the assembled crowd. A horse with painted designs on its coat dominates the center of the image. These designs do not appear in any of the sketches in Bodmer's portfolio. Is it possible to draw any conclusions about the history of this sketch? Again, since it is not part of Maximilian's collection, it is not likely that the sketch was executed during the expedition. The style of the drawing also argues for it being a preparatory sketch for the aquatint. No other sketches in Maximilian's collection are executed in a similar style and only one other drawing, now in the Newberry Library collection, resembles this bold and hasty composition.16 It is most likely, then, that this sketch was drawn by Bodmer in Paris, to give Manceau a rough outline of what Bodmer expected for the aquatint Vignette 26, The Travellers Meeting at Fort Clark. |
