A Muskrat

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

A Muskrat

Date

October 13, 1833

Dimensions

9 5/16 × 14 5/8 in. (23.7 × 37.1 cm)

Medium

Watercolor on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.350

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

Maximilian's account mentions that the first snowfall of the season occurred at Fort Union on October 15. Two days earlier he had noted that several animals had been brought into the fort for his inspection, including a number of muskrats, ducks, and geese. Bodmer's watercolor of a muskrat, although undated, may have been done at about this time. In addition to his animal studies, the artist also produced several Indian portraits before departing downriver for Fort Clark near modern Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 30.

References in Journal

October 13, 1833

Labels:

study , zoological study , Fort Union, North Dakota

Approximate Depicted Location:

Fort Union, North Dakota