Synopsis of Indian Hieroglyphics Pl. 59 (detail)

Seth Eastman (January 24, 1808 – August 31, 1875) was a distinguished artist and West Point graduate who served in the U.S. Army, initially as a mapmaker and illustrator. He completed two tours at Fort Snelling in the Minnesota Territory, where he became the commanding officer during his extended second tour. During these years, Eastman created numerous paintings depicting Native American life, earning recognition for his detailed and respectful portrayals. He is particularly noted for his hundreds of illustrations for Henry Rowe Schoolcraft's six-volume study on the history of Native American tribes, commissioned by the U.S. Congress. Along with his second wife, Mary Henderson Eastman, who authored a book on Dakota Sioux life and culture that he illustrated, Eastman played a crucial role in documenting Native American life. In 1838, he was honored as an Honorary Academician by the National Academy of Design.