Augustin François LEMAITRE (1797-1870) Mandan... Lot 398

Augustin François LEMAITRE (1797-1870) Mandan Indians cured of smallpox by a shaman Intaglio engraving Dimensions (as seen): 11.5 x 16 cm Under glass and marie-louise, e-frame, incised and green-stained wood Overall dimensions: 30 x 35.5 cm The Mandans are a First Nations people who historically lived on the banks of the Missouri River and two of its tributaries, in the present-day states of North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1837, infected sheets and blankets voluntarily bartered by European trappers and traders created a major smallpox epidemic, reducing their numbers to around 125 survivors in a matter of weeks.