The image displays six individuals standing in a row against a plain background. The central figure is a man with dark hair adorned with feathers and shells, wearing a necklace and a fringed skirt. Flanking him are two women with long dark hair, one holding a pot on her head. Two young children stand between them, wearing similar attire. On the far right stands a young boy with feathers in his hair, holding a bow. The background is plain with a muted teal border.
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The image displays six individuals standing in a row against a plain background. The central figure is a man with dark hair adorned with feathers and shells, wearing a necklace and a fringed skirt. Flanking him are two women with long dark hair, one holding a pot on her head. Two young children stand between them, wearing similar attire. On the far right stands a young boy with feathers in his hair, holding a bow. The background is plain with a muted teal border.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

A Connibo Indian Family

George Catlin

Date
1854/1869
Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 46.5 x 61.5 cm (18 5/16 x 24 3/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1965.16.231
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CAB

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • American Paintings, Catlin
  • Chief (unnamed)
  • Wives of chief (two unnamed)
  • South American Indian
  • portrait
  • Connibo
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.

NGA object ID 50539. 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.