Artwork
An Arapahoe Boy
An Arapahoe Boy is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist George de Forest Brush. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: An Arapahoe Boy; lower right: To Mrs. Ermine[sic] Smith / from her friend / Geo. de F. Brush
About this work
Technique & Style
An Arapahoe Boy is executed in oil on canvas using the grisaille technique, a method restricted to a monochromatic tonal range.
An Arapahoe Boy is executed in oil on canvas using the grisaille technique, a method restricted to a monochromatic tonal range. The painting's classification as a grisaille oil on canvas is documented in the National Gallery of Art's records. A personal inscription on the work, reading "To Mrs. Ermine Smith / from her friend / Geo.
De F. Brush," is located in the lower right corner of the canvas. The provenance also notes an undated, handwritten label on Christmas-themed wrapping paper attached to the backboard, reading "For Nickie / with love / Mommy & Daddy," which reflects informal handling and gifting within the Wyeth family prior to its 2007 donation to the NGA.
History & Provenance
George de Forest Brush completed this grisaille oil painting in 1882. An inscription in the lower right corner dedicates the work to Mrs. Erminie Smith, identifying the artist as her friend. The piece remained in private hands until it appeared in a sale at Butterfield & Butterfield in San Francisco on March 12, 1987, having previously been exhibited at the Montgomery Gallery in late 1981.
Following the auction, Mrs. Andrew Wyeth purchased the canvas and subsequently gifted it to her son, Nicholas Wyeth. Nicholas then presented the work to his wife, Jane Wyeth, in New York. In 2007, Jane Wyeth donated the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
An Arapahoe Boy entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2007 as a gift from Jane Wyeth. The work previously belonged to her husband, Nicholas Wyeth, who received it from his mother, Mrs. Andrew Wyeth, following its purchase in 1987. Before entering the Wyeth family, the painting was sold at Butterfield & Butterfield in San Francisco on March 12, 1987, having originated from a private collection in Northern California.
Prior to its acquisition by the National Gallery of Art, the painting was exhibited at the Montgomery Gallery in San Francisco. It appeared in the show Visions of the Last Frontier, which ran from October 13 to November 27, 1981, where it was listed as number 23 in the catalogue and offered for sale.
Overview
George de Forest Brush’s oil painting titled An Arapahoe Boy dates to around 1882. Executed in grisaille, the work presents a solitary figure rendered almost entirely in gray and black tones. The composition is compact, focusing on a young man in a dark, high‑collared coat with a hood, his expression solemn and the brushwork brisk, suggesting a rapid sketch rather than a fully finished portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a Native American youth, identified as an Arapahoe boy, dressed for cold weather in practical attire. The serious demeanor and modest pose convey a sense of dignity and resilience, reflecting the artist’s interest in portraying indigenous individuals with a respectful, observational eye rather than romanticizing their culture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George de Forest Brush (September 28, 1855 – April 24, 1941) was an American painter and Georgist.
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