Artwork
Three Riccarree Indians
Three Riccarree Indians is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist George Catlin. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1861, this oil painting on card, later affixed to paperboard, portrays three members of the Riccarree tribe standing outdoors.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center: Geo. Catlin / 61.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1861, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a card support, which is subsequently mounted onto paperboard.
Executed in 1861, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a card support, which is subsequently mounted onto paperboard. The work functions as a painted portrait depicting three figures identified as Riccarree Indians. The physical object measures 47.2 cm in height and 61.7 cm in width.
No specific details regarding the artist's handling of the medium, the current condition of the surface, or distinct stylistic attributes beyond its classification as a portrait are provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
Three Riccarree Indians was painted by George Catlin in 1861 in oil on card mounted on paperboard. The work descended from Catlin to his daughters Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin. In 1912 the American Museum of Natural History purchased it from Elizabeth Wing Catlin.
The painting was later sold in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia, who gave it to the National Gallery of Art in 1965.
The painting entered the collection of the American Museum of Natural History in 1912 following its purchase from Elizabeth Wing Catlin, one of the artist's daughters. The museum deaccessioned the work in 1959, selling it through Kennedy Galleries in New York to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia. Mellon subsequently donated the piece to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1965, where it remains in the permanent collection.
Overview
Created in 1861, this oil painting on card, later affixed to paperboard, portrays three members of the Riccarree tribe standing outdoors. The composition includes two male figures adorned with feathered headdresses and star‑patterned robes, each holding a staff or shield, and a female figure dressed in a brightly patterned gown while carrying a basket. The background features a pale sky and a dry, sparsely vegetated ground.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a specific moment in Riccarree cultural attire, emphasizing the ceremonial dress and accessories that signify status and identity within the tribe. The inclusion of symbolic motifs such as stars and arrows on the garments reflects traditional iconography, while the grouping of the figures suggests a familial or communal relationship.
Context
At the time of its creation, the United States was undergoing rapid expansion into western territories, leading to increased interest in recording the lives of Indigenous groups. This work reflects the broader effort to preserve visual records of tribal customs amid growing cultural displacement.
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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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