Artwork
Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War
Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War 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
Technique & Style
George Catlin executed Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War in 1861 using oil paint applied to a card support, which was subsequently mounted onto paperboard.
George Catlin executed Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War in 1861 using oil paint applied to a card support, which was subsequently mounted onto paperboard. The work measures 46.1 cm in height and 61.5 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the painting depicts three Shoshonee warriors in a formal composition.
The piece is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having been gifted to the institution in 1965 after passing through the hands of the artist's descendants and private collectors.
History & Provenance
George Catlin created the oil painting Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War in 1861. 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.
The museum later sold the painting in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries in New York to collector 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 part of the collection.
The painting Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its provenance traces from the artist George Catlin to his daughters, followed by a 1912 purchase by the American Museum of Natural History. The work was sold in 1959 through Kennedy Galleries to Paul Mellon before being gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1965. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history for the work.
Overview
George Catlin’s 1865 work, Three Shoshonee Warriors Armed for War, is an oil painting executed on card that has been mounted on paperboard. The composition presents three Shoshone men poised in a field, each equipped with a weapon and adorned in traditional regalia, against a light blue sky with scattered clouds.
Subject & Meaning
The three figures are rendered as armed warriors, each bearing a distinct armament, a bow and arrow, a spear, and a staff, signifying readiness for combat. Their feathered headdresses, necklaces, and loincloths emphasize cultural identity, while the overall stance conveys a sense of strength and resolve.
Context
The painting belongs to a broader body of work in which Catlin sought to capture the customs and appearances of Native American tribes during a period of rapid change. It aligns with the 19th‑century American folk tradition, which favored straightforward narrative depictions over academic refinement.
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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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