first trained artist to reside in Wisconsin, b. Upper Emmenthal, Switzerland. He studied for a time with Samuel Weibel in Switzerland, and in 1821 migrated with his parents to Lord Selkirk's colony at Pembina, Canada. In 1826 he moved to Wisconsin, and from 1826 to 1829 resided at Gratiot's Grove, in what is now Lafayette County. From 1829 until his death he made his home in St. Louis, Mo. Rindisbacher was known for his Indian portraits and scenes of Indian life in Canada, Wisconsin, and the Northwest region. P. Butts, Art in Wis. (Madison, 1936); Art Quarterly, 12 (1949), pp. 129-144; Minn. Hist., 14, 20; WPA MS.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Peter Rindisbacher Drawings, Watercolors, and Photographs of Artwork for details.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]