Immediately to the left a large canvas, in the manner of heroic European history painting, depicts the discovery of the Mississippi River by Father Jacques Marquette, S. J. in 1673, and implicitly demarks the border of The West: west of the Mississippi.
BR. JOSEPH CARIGNANO, S. J.( American, born Italy, 1853 – 1919) Fr. Marquette Discovering the Mississippi, before 1910 Oil on linen Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University; Gift of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. 1995.21
The theme of exploration is echoed as the viewer continues on the clockwise rotation to find two early watercolors of the Spokane and Coeur d’ Alene area by John Mix Stanley, who at the time was on an expedition to survey a northern railroad route to the Pacific Coast, having been commissioned as chief artist by Isaac Stevens, first governor of Washington Territory. Stanley is also known for his many depictions of Native American peoples.
10 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
John Mix Stanley( American, 1814 – 1872) Falls of the Spokane, 1855
Hand-colored lithograph on paper, 7 7 / 8 x 10 9 / 16 inches
Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University; Gift of Paul Manoguerra in honor of Karen Kaiser and Anita Martello. 2013.2