Quite frankly, there is no single artist alive today any where in the world who can do a drawing this good. For this epic size mural study, Cornwell constructs the figure from knowledge instead of copying from reality.
On
the artist's label accompanying this lot, Dean Cornwell states that
this "mural cartoon" is one of nine he submitted to the Manufacturers
National Bank of Lewiston, Maine. Of these nine, the bank chose two,
including the present work. According to The Manufacturers National Bank
pamphlet titled "About our Murals" that accompanies this piece, the
work depicts "the symbolic great Falls of the Androscoggin River about
1695 ... the source of water power for this area from which our
industrial progress has been made possible. Observe how the
Angroscoggins (for Anasagunicooks), an Indian Tribe of this community
belonging to the powerful Abnaki Nation, spear their Maine salmon from
thundering, cool, clear waters. Indians from miles away fished and
hunted this plentiful region, and nearby, the great Indian Sagamores,
Warumbee, maintained his permanent village and fort. What is now
Lewiston and Auburn was an important crossroads ... a center from which
vital trails led to other sections of the settled country. Note how
these native hunters replenish their food supply before the long journey
onward, and barter with the Canadian Trader who carries such a tempting
meal on his gun.""
The artist;  Kirkham Cornwell, son of the above, by descent; br Private collection, Illinois.