Artwork
A Chetibo Family
A Chetibo Family is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist George Catlin. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The physical construction involves a layered approach, combining the rigid stability of the card with the additional support of the paperboard mount.
Executed in 1861, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a card support, which is subsequently mounted onto a paperboard backing. The work measures 45.9 cm in height and 59.7 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition functions as a genre portrait that incorporates natural elements, specifically depicting a tree within the scene.
The physical construction involves a layered approach, combining the rigid stability of the card with the additional support of the paperboard mount.
History & Provenance
A Chetibo Family is an 1861 oil painting on card mounted on paperboard, classified as a portrait that depicts a tree. George Catlin created the work, which remained in his family after his death. It passed by descent to his daughters Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
In 1912 the painting was sold by Elizabeth Wing Catlin to the American Museum of Natural History, then resold in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries, New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Paul Mellon gifted the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1965, where it remains in the collection.
The painting A Chetibo Family by George Catlin is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its provenance traces from the artist to his daughters, after which it was purchased in 1912 by the American Museum of Natural History. The museum sold the work in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia, who subsequently gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in 1965. The work was created in 1861 and is executed in oil on card mounted on paperboard.
Overview
George Catlin's 1862 oil painting, A Chetibo Family, captures a group from the Chetibo tribe. Executed on card and mounted on paperboard, this work reflects Catlin's sustained interest in depicting Indigenous cultures of the American West. The artist, originally trained in law, dedicated his career to documenting Native American life, often combining his visual records with written observations. This piece exemplifies his distinctive approach to portraiture and cultural representation.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a Chetibo family seated beneath a tree, offering a glimpse into their communal life. Catlin meticulously rendered their attire and personal adornments, providing visual information about their cultural practices and daily existence. This attention to specific details aimed to record the distinct identities and traditions of the Indigenous peoples he encountered during his extensive travels across the American frontier.
Context
Catlin's artistic career was profoundly shaped by his travels through the American West in the 1830s, which ignited his lifelong commitment to documenting Native American cultures. A Chetibo Family belongs to a larger body of work focused on Plains Indian subjects, through which he sought to preserve visual records of Indigenous life during a period of significant societal change. His "outsider perspective" as a non-Indigenous observer informed his documentary approach.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Catlin ( KAT-lin; July 26, 1796 – December 23, 1872) was an American lawyer, painter, author, and traveler, who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the American frontier.
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