Johann Carl Bodmer (born 1809 in Zurich, Switzerland, died, 1893) began studying art at the age of thirteen. His mother’s brother, Johann Jakob Meier, was Carl’s teacher. Accordingly, Carl and his older brother, Rudolf, often accompanied their uncle on his artistic travels throughout their native country. (Carl changed the spelling of his name to Karl around 1850.)

In 1828, Bodmer relocated to the German City of Koblenz where he came under the attention of Prinz Maximilian zu Wied-Neuweid, or more popularly, Prince Max. On May 17, 1832, Bodmer traveled with Prince Max and David Dreidoppel to America on a scientific expedition. Shortly after their arrival, Prince Max and Dreidoppel became indisposed with symptoms resembling cholera. Bodmer did not become ill and traveled alone to New Orleans. It was during these travels that Bodmer first painted Native Americans.

On February 15, 1833, Bodmer rejoined Prince Max and they traveled through St. Louis, Leavenworth, Fort Pierre, Fort Clark and Fort Union. From there, they then continued on to Fort McKenzie. During the expedition, Bodmer painted many masterpieces of Native Americans, along with many species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, as well as various landscapes.