Miller's Joseph Walker

[Mark]

Miller painted/sketched two version of JWalker. The field sketch shows a much leaner, no beard Walker. His Indian 'squaw' is also more svelte and better looking. The painting with the same title shows a completely different Walker, bearded and heavier. You would not even take them for the same person. Of course we can only guess, but which is the more accurate version?

All speculation is welcome.

Mark

[Chuck Burrows]

Miller's field sketches are concidered to be the closest to photo evidence, but even then it is art work and not a photo...
The later works had much input from both Stewart and the publics desires........But even the later work while perhaps more romantacized holds some good info......

here's the best pic I have of the field sketch;


and here's the later image with zoom capability
art.thewalters.org/viewwoa.aspx?id=14801

[sean]

Agreed, Rex Norman and others have written extensively on the detail differences between the field sketches Miller did on the trail in 1837 with the various other versions he painted over roughly the next three decades. The general assumption most make is that the field sketches more likely represent what Miller saw or at least how he interpreted what he saw. I prefer the latter interpretation because just about anyone who has ever loaded a pack horse or mule and thrown a diamond hitch will agree that Miller's art suggest he likely never took part in that duty.

On the field sketch of Walker, I've always loved that one. Joe is loaded for bear in that one with a rifle and what appears to be 4 pistols (2 in the belt and two over the pommel). Reading Conner's writings of traveling with Walker in Arizona in the 1850's suggest that he was a very careful man when it came to keep his own hair and that of the men who road with him.

Sean