Artwork
Three Peoria Indians
Three Peoria Indians 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
This painting shows three Native American men from the Peoria tribe. They are dressed in traditional clothing. Their faces are serious and calm.
The interesting thing about this work is that it gives us a glimpse into the lives of Native Americans in the 19th century.
To learn more about the artist who created this portrait, look up the artist: Catlin, George.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts three men identified as Peoria Indians, a Midwestern tribe Catlin documented during his travels.
The painting depicts three men identified as Peoria Indians, a Midwestern tribe Catlin documented during his travels. The figures are shown in traditional attire, emphasizing their cultural identity. Catlin's portrayal reflects his broader project of documenting Native American life, positioning the work within the genre of ethnographic portraiture rather than idealized or allegorical representation.
The depiction of specific regalia underscores the subjects' tribal affiliation and the historical context of mid-19th-century Indigenous presence in the United States.
History & Provenance
The painting Three Peoria Indians by George Catlin was created in 1865. It is an oil work on card mounted on paperboard. The artist retained ownership 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. The museum later sold the work in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Mellon subsequently gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1965, where it remains in the collection. No specific accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
Artist George Catlin created Three Peoria Indians in 1865, a painting that captures three members of the Peoria tribe. This oil on card work reflects Catlin's sustained effort to document Indigenous communities across North America. The portrait offers a visual record of Native American life during the 19th century, presenting the figures in traditional attire with composed expressions.
Technique & Style
Catlin executed Three Peoria Indians using oil paint on card, which was then mounted onto paperboard. This method was characteristic of his practice, particularly for the numerous portraits he produced. His technique allowed for a direct and focused rendering of his subjects, emphasizing their individual features and traditional attire within a relatively straightforward compositional framework.
Context
George Catlin, originally trained as a lawyer, dedicated his artistic career to portraying Native American life. His extensive travels across the American frontier during the 1830s informed his specialization in portraits of Plains Indians. Three Peoria Indians from 1865 continues this lifelong endeavor, building upon a body of work that includes earlier engravings of the Erie Canal, published in an early lithographed book.
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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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