Artwork
Facsimile of a Pawnee Doctor's Robe with Fantastic Professional Designs
Facsimile of a Pawnee Doctor's Robe with Fantastic Professional Designs is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist George Catlin. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece functions as a facsimile, replicating the visual appearance of a Pawnee Doctor's robe featuring fantastic professional designs.
Created in 1861, this work is executed in oil paint applied to a card support, which is subsequently mounted onto a paperboard backing. The piece functions as a facsimile, replicating the visual appearance of a Pawnee Doctor's robe featuring fantastic professional designs. Its formal presentation as a still life painting results in a rectangular format measuring 46.6 cm in height and 61.2 cm in width. The medium and mounting technique distinguish it as a painted reproduction rather than the original textile artifact.
History & Provenance
Created in 1861 by George Catlin, this oil painting on card mounted on paperboard serves as a facsimile of a Pawnee Doctor's Robe. The work originated with the artist, George Catlin (1796–1872), before passing by descent to his daughters: Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin. In 1912, the American Museum of Natural History purchased the piece from Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
The museum later sold the work in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to collector Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. It entered the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as a gift from Mellon in 1965.
The work is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it is recorded as accession number 1965.16.1.
It was exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History after its 1912 acquisition from the artist’s daughters, and later included in the 1965 gift from Mr. Paul Mellon to the National Gallery of Art.
Overview
Created in 1865, this oil painting by George Catlin reproduces a Pawnee ceremonial robe adorned with intricate designs. Executed on card that is mounted on paperboard, the work falls within the American folk art tradition, specifically the still‑life category, though its subject matter extends beyond ordinary objects.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a stylized buffalo hide featuring mounted figures in vibrant attire, feathered headpieces, and assorted weapons. Set against a desert‑like backdrop, the scene includes small fauna, flora, and a prominent cactus, suggesting a narrative or ritual context tied to Pawnee cultural practices.
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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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