Wenona's Leap, Lake Pepin, Mississippi River, 1851, Seth Eastman, American, 1808–1875, 6 1/2 × 9 3/4 in. (16.51 × 24.77 cm) (image)9 3/4 × 12 7/8 in. (24.77 × 32.7 cm) (sheet), Watercolor, United States, 19th century, This meticulous landscape is Seth Eastman's illustration for a story interpreted and then published by his second wife, Mary Henderson Eastman. In Mary’s version, young Wenona’s parents wanted her to marry Chaskè, a good hunter, but she loved another. One day, while her friends hunted porcupines along the shores of Lake Pepin along the Mississippi, they watched her jump off a cliff; this work depicts the moments before her leap. As Mary recounted in 'The Maiden’s Rock; or, Wenona’s Leap': 'She was there indeed, loudly and wildly singing her dirge, an invocation to the Spirit of the Rock, calm and unconcerned in her dangerous position, while all was terror and excitement among her friends below her.'
Keywords:
Wenona's Leap, Lake Pepin, Mississippi River, 1851, Seth Eastman, American, 1808–1875, Mississippi, watched, jump off, cliff, work depicts, moments, leap, Mary recounted, Maiden's Rock, Wenona's Leap, indeed, loudly, wildly singing, dirge, invocation, Spirit, Rock, calm, unconcerned, dangerous position, terror, excitement, friends, .', image, sheet, Watercolor, United States, 19th century, meticulous landscape, Seth Eastman's illustration, story interpreted, published, second wife, Mary Henderson Eastman, Mary's version, young Wenona's parents wanted, marry Chaskè, good hunter, loved another, day, friends hunted porcupines, shores, Lake Pepin, 24.77 × 32.7 cm
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