Artwork
Spearing by Torchlight
Spearing by Torchlight is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist George Catlin. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Spearing by Torchlight is an oil work executed on a rigid card affixed to a paperboard support. Its surface measures 46.4 cm in height by 62 cm in width. The composition belongs to the genre-scene category and portrays a boat alongside a tree. Executed in 1862, the work is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
It remained in their collection until 1959, when it was sold through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia.
George Catlin created the oil painting Spearing by Torchlight in 1862. The work was originally owned by the artist until his death in 1872, after which it 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 piece from Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
It remained in their collection until 1959, when it was sold through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Mellon subsequently gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1965, where it is held today. The work measures 46.4 × 62 cm and is executed in oil on card mounted on paperboard.
Overview
George Catlin's Spearing by Torchlight, painted in 1862, captures a dynamic nocturnal scene. Executed in oil on card mounted on paperboard, the work depicts figures engaged in fishing from a boat under the dramatic illumination of torches. This piece aligns with Catlin's consistent artistic pursuit of documenting scenes from American frontier existence, reflecting his long-standing engagement with such subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a group of individuals on a boat, actively spearing fish in the darkness of night. Torches held aloft cast a warm, flickering glow across the water, highlighting the figures and their activity against the deep shadows of the surrounding environment, including a nearby tree. This intense illumination transforms an ordinary act of sustenance into a visually compelling and dramatic event.
Context
Originally trained as a lawyer, George Catlin transitioned to painting, becoming known for his extensive travels and artistic documentation of the American frontier. During the 1830s, he journeyed through the American West, producing numerous portraits and genre scenes that captured the life and culture of Plains Indian communities. His earlier career also included creating detailed landscape engravings for one of the first lithographed books, depicting views along the Erie Canal.
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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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