Charles Deas (1818-67), an enigmatic figure on the edge of mainstream artistic circles in mid-nineteenth-century New York, went west to explore new opportunities and subjects in 1840. From his adopted hometown of St. Louis, Deas sent his iconic paintings of fur trappers and Indians back east for exhibition and sale, briefly winning the recognition that had earlier eluded him.

This handsome volume--featuring more than 150 illustrations, 70 in color--is the first book exclusively devoted to Deas. In two major essays, Carol Clark presents Deas's haunting biography and complex art--works that...