Lot 21: RUDOLF CRONAU (1855-1939)

Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull signed, dated and inscribed 'Rud. Cronau 25/10 1881 Fort Randall S. Dac.' (lower right) and inscribed 'Sitting Bull' (lower center) graphite and ink wash on paper 151/2 x 121/4 in. (39.4 x 31.1 cm.) NOTES Born in Solingen Germany in 1855, Cronau studied at Dusseldorf Academy before moving to Leipzig to pursue a career as a newspaper writer and illustrator. On January 1, 1881, Cronau embarked on his first trip to American on an assignment to write and illustrate scenes of the American West for the German publication Die Gartenlaube. Cronau visited Standing Rock Reservation and Fort Randall on this first trip west and recorded his meetings with important Indian dignitaries in a number of works including the present drawing as well as Heu-Topa, Four Horns (lot 23) and Wakialuta (lot 57). Through their fine and sympathetic attention to detail, the works by Cronau offered in this sale are important ethnographic and topographic views of early American history. A framed photograph of the artist, dedicated to Sitting Bull, accompanies the lot.