There are four individuals shown standing in a line. Three individuals are facing each other, while one is slightly turned to the side. The central figure is wearing a wrapped garment with a decorative belt and fringed details, while the others are wearing lower body covering attire with exposed upper bodies. Each person is adorned with body paint, feathers in their hair, and has long, dark hair. Their facial features are detailed. One person is holding a spear with feathers, another has a bow and arrows in a quiver on their back, and the remaining two individuals are holding staffs or spears. The background is a neutral hue with grass beneath their feet.
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There are four individuals shown standing in a line. Three individuals are facing each other, while one is slightly turned to the side. The central figure is wearing a wrapped garment with a decorative belt and fringed details, while the others are wearing lower body covering attire with exposed upper bodies. Each person is adorned with body paint, feathers in their hair, and has long, dark hair. Their facial features are detailed. One person is holding a spear with feathers, another has a bow and arrows in a quiver on their back, and the remaining two individuals are holding staffs or spears. The background is a neutral hue with grass beneath their feet.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

Apachee Chief and Three Warriors

George Catlin

Date
1855/1869
Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.1 x 61.4 cm (17 3/4 x 24 3/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1965.16.145
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CAB

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • American Paintings, Catlin
  • North American Indian
  • portrait
  • Apachee
  • Be-las-o-qua-na ("Spanish Spur"), chief of a band
  • Hu-tah, warrior
  • Nah-quat-se-o, warrior
  • Nic-war-ra (The Horse Catcher), warrior
Provenance

George Catlin [1796-1872]; by descent to his daughters, Clara Gregory Catlin, Louise Catlin Kinney, and Elizabeth Wing Catlin; purchased 1912 from Elizabeth Wing Catlin by the American Museum of Natural History; sold 1959 through (Kennedy Galleries, New York) to Mr. Paul Mellon, Upperville, VA; gift 1965 to the NGA.

Inscription

lower center: Catlin p.

NGA object ID 50453. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.