Dr, Paul Dana Torre, son of the editor of Osservatore Romano, who is assistant in the Pontifical Missionary Ethnological Museum of the Lateran Palace, has published a study of the collection of statues and bas-reliefs of the life of the American Indians, executed by the famous sculptor, Ferdinand Pettrick.
There are 33 pieces in the collection. Four large bas-reliefs represent buffalo hunting scenes, war dances, battle between the tribes of the Winnebagoes and the Creeks, a meeting held in 1837 at Washington between the representatives of the American Government and the chiefs of the tribes of Sax-Foxes and the Sioux for the sale of their lands.
Four life-size statues represent real persons, among whom is the famous Tecumseh, Chief of all the Indian tribes of the West. at the moinent of his death in the battle of Thames (1813) when killed by a pittol shot fired by Colonel Richard Johnson, The face of the dying man was drawn by Peurick from the mask which C'olonel Johnson himself modelled from the body of his conquered enemy.
NOT ABLE TO FINISH
All the statues, busts and bas-reliefs are in plaster. The sculptor had intended to reproduce them in marble, but was never able to carry out this work.
Having finished his collection, Pettrick, after an attempt had hen made against his life, reportedly caused by professional jealousy, left the United States and went to Brazil where he remained until 1857, sculpturing valuable works, among which was the monument to Napoleon for the Museum of Rio de Janeiro. In 1857 he decided to return to Europe. He stayed a year at London and then returned to Rome.