Artwork
Four Zurumati Children
Four Zurumati Children 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
Subject & Meaning
Four Zurumati Children is a portrait painting that depicts four young girls from the Zurumati community posed together in a domestic setting.
Four Zurumati Children is a portrait painting that depicts four young girls from the Zurumati community posed together in a domestic setting. The composition emphasizes their individual expressions while presenting them as a cohesive group, reflecting Catlin's interest in documenting Indigenous peoples with dignity and ethnographic precision. The work conveys themes of cultural continuity and familial bonds within the community, aligning with the artist's broader documentation of Native American life.
The painting is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., where it has been held since its acquisition in 1965.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1861, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a card support, which is subsequently mounted on paperboard. The work measures 46.3 cm in height and 62.2 cm in width. As a painted portrait, the piece reflects the artist's approach to capturing subjects during this period, though specific details regarding surface condition, handling history, or distinct stylistic maneuvers beyond its classification as a portrait are not detailed in the available records.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1861 by George Catlin, Four Zurumati Children entered the artist’s family after its creation. Following Catlin’s death, the work passed to his daughters Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin by descent. The painting was acquired by the American Museum of Natural History in 1912 from Elizabeth Wing Catlin, later sold in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon, and finally gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1965.
The painting Four Zurumati Children 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, with the work purchased in 1912 by the American Museum of Natural History from Elizabeth Wing Catlin. The museum sold the piece in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon, who subsequently gifted it to the National Gallery of Art in 1965.
Overview
Created in 1862, Four Zurumati Children is an oil painting executed on card that has been mounted on paperboard. The work portrays four young members of the Zurumati tribe standing outdoors against a muted sky. Their simple attire, barefoot stance, and modest accessories convey a direct, folk‑art approach to portraiture.
Context
During the 1860s, Catlin’s efforts to document Native American life coincided with increasing pressure on tribal lands and cultures. By portraying the Zurumati children in a straightforward, dignified manner, the painting contributes to a visual archive that sought to preserve a record of communities facing rapid change.
Own this work as a print
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.
Bulls Fighting
Expedition Encamped on a Texas Prairie. April 1686
An Alligator's Nest
Mrs. George Catlin (Clara Bartlet Gregory)
Chief of the Taensa Indians Receiving La Salle. March 20, 1682
A Small Village - Payaguas Indians
Omaha Chief, His Wife, and a Warrior
Father Hennepin Leaving the Mississippi to Join La Salle. May 8, 1680
