Artwork
Return from a Turtle Hunt - Connibo
Return from a Turtle Hunt - Connibo 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
History & Provenance
Following the artist's death in 1872, the work passed by descent to his daughters: Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
George Catlin executed this oil on card mounted on paperboard in 1862. Following the artist's death in 1872, the work passed 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 painting directly from Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
The museum retained the piece until 1959, when it was sold through Kennedy Galleries of New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Mellon subsequently gifted the work to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1965, where it remains in the collection.
Context
George Catlin painted Return from a Turtle Hunt - Connibo in 1862, an oil on card mounted on paperboard that belongs to the genre‑scene tradition of 19th‑century American art. The work shows a tree, a motif Catlin used to evoke the natural environment of Indigenous peoples. After descending through Catlin’s daughters, the painting entered the American Museum of Natural History, was sold in 1959 via Kennedy Galleries to Paul Mellon, and was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1965, where it remains on view.
Scholars consider the piece part of Catlin’s broader effort to document Native American life and to blend documentary realism with romantic genre painting.
Overview
George Catlin's 1862 painting, Return from a Turtle Hunt - Connibo, is rendered in oil on card mounted on paperboard. This work is categorized within American folk art and presents a genre scene. The artist, initially trained in law, became known for his extensive documentation of Native American cultures.
While he spent years observing and sketching various tribes, this particular piece from later in his career offers a focused depiction of a daily activity.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a solitary figure, a man, carrying a large turtle under one arm. He moves past a prominent tree, characterized by its substantial root system. The turtle's shell appears dark and glistening, contrasting with the lighter fabric of the man's shirt.
This quiet scene captures a moment from daily life, emphasizing the practical aspects of sustenance and interaction with the natural environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on card, which is then affixed to paperboard, Return from a Turtle Hunt - Connibo exemplifies aspects of American folk art. This medium choice and the subject matter distinguish it from Catlin's earlier artistic endeavors. The composition, though seemingly simple, incorporates subtle details, contributing to its contemplative atmosphere.
It represents a stylistic departure from the more formal portraits and grander narratives found in his earlier frontier documentation.
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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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