I found together this and two other mid 19th century pencil drawings (listed separately) done it seems by three brothers of the same Hudson, Ohio Peck family. This one is signed Ed R. Peck on reverse; I have found record of him, his brothers William and Joseph, and several siblings, all who appear to have been born in the 1830s-50s.
Thanks to the help of a brilliant customer, I've figured out that this is a portrait of the "Daughter of Tecumseh, captioned below it. Tecumseh (c. 1768 – October 5, 1813) was the Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the U.S. onto Native American lands, and lead the establishment of the Native American Confederacy. I think our subject might be as much a figurative as literal daughter of Tecumseh, a proud young Native American woman. I love her starry eyes and the bit of a "who, me?" attitude she conveys through expression and posture. A small drawing, but one with a big presence.
3" x 2 5/8" on heavyweight wove. Light foxing and staining especially around the edges, but overall good condition and I think just great.
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