ENGLISH SCHOOL (17th century). PORTRAIT OF "JOHN ELLIOT THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIANS, NASCIT 1604-OBIT 1690", titled and inscribed upper left. Oil on canvas
Click here to view supplemental information for this lot. - Framed, 37 1/4 in. x 30 3/4 in. Estimate $50,000-100,000
Elliot, a minister originally based in Roxbury, MA, was the most important minister to and first religious figure to bring the Christian religion and its teachings and values to the native Indians of the Boston area in the 17th Century. To this end, Elliot published the first edition of the King James Bible in American colonies in 1662, which was his translation of the English text into the Indian language. In 1666, his grammar of Massachusetts, called "The Indian Grammar Begun," was published. He placed the Indians in planned towns in hopes of encouraging them to recreate a Christian society. There were 14 of these so-called "Praying Indians" towns, the best documented being at Natick, Massachusetts. John Eliot and fellow ministers Thomas Weld (also of Roxbury) and Richard Mather of Dorchester, are credited with being the editors of the Bay Psalm Book, which was the first book published in the British North American colonies.
Lined; surface dirt and debris.
UV: Areas of inpainting right side of shoulder and sleeves, background over head and right and left side of face. Small scattered dots of inpainting in background.
