The Stories Behind the Art

Displayed in the Augusta Vin Tasting Room

Herman Lehman Near Fredericksburg

Herman Lehman’s life tells a powerful story of identity, survival, and the cultural crossroads of the Old West. Born to German immigrants near Fredericksburg, he was captured at the age of ten by a raiding party of Apache. Over time, he became fully assimilated, rising to the role of petty chief.

After fleeing the Apache, Herman lived alone on the Plains for a year before joining the Comanche, where he was adopted by Chief Quanah Parker. He remained with the tribe for years, eventually returning to Texas — a man suspended between two worlds, never fully belonging to one or the other.

The painting captures a scene described in Lehman’s autobiography: scouting Fredericksburg with the Apache at twilight, lit by both moonlight and the fading sun. Cross Mountain appears in the background, an iconic Hill Country landmark.

“I was the last Comanche living off the reservation — and I was a German boy.”
— Herman Lehman

Treaty on the San Saba

This painting depicts the true story of the Meusebach–Comanche Treaty, one of the few unbroken peace agreements between European settlers and Native American tribes.

In 1847, German settlers discovered they had been sold land in the heart of Comancheria. John O. Meusebach led an expedition from Fredericksburg into Comanche territory to negotiate a peaceful agreement. Chiefs Buffalo Hump, Santa Anna, and Old Owl welcomed the group and, after days of negotiations, agreed to co-exist in peace.

The treaty was ratified two months later and allowed both settlers and Comanche to move safely through each other’s territories.

This scene is based on the diary of Ferdinand von Roemer, a German scientist who joined the expedition. He wrote of the Comanche chiefs’ dignity, their traditions, and the presence of a blue-eyed, blond-haired boy among them — Herman Lehman.

🎨 About the Artist

Both paintings are based on historical accounts and eyewitness diaries, carefully recreated to reflect real moments in Texas history. The landscapes, posture, clothing, and emotion are all rooted in the original texts.

To learn more about the artist, Lee Casbeer, visit his official website:
About the Artist
Treaty with the Comanches Painting
Herman Lehmann Painting