The image presents a depiction of three individuals standing next to each other. The middle person has medium-length dark hair, a tall feathered headdress, distinctive facial features, painted chest designs, a waist covering, necklaces, bracelets, and an arm band. To the left, a young figure with dark hair and facial markings is wearing minimal clothing with painted chest designs and bracelets. On the right, another person with medium-length dark hair, feathered earrings, and an elaborately beaded top is wearing arm and ankle decorations, along with a patterned waist covering. The background shows a softly painted, abstract outdoor landscape with green foliage and a neutral sky, framed in muted tones.
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The image presents a depiction of three individuals standing next to each other. The middle person has medium-length dark hair, a tall feathered headdress, distinctive facial features, painted chest designs, a waist covering, necklaces, bracelets, and an arm band. To the left, a young figure with dark hair and facial markings is wearing minimal clothing with painted chest designs and bracelets. On the right, another person with medium-length dark hair, feathered earrings, and an elaborately beaded top is wearing arm and ankle decorations, along with a patterned waist covering. The background shows a softly painted, abstract outdoor landscape with green foliage and a neutral sky, framed in muted tones.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

A Chetibo Family

George Catlin

Date
1854/1869
Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.9 x 59.7 cm (18 1/16 x 23 1/2 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1965.16.233
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CAB

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • American Paintings, Catlin
  • Son of chief (unnamed)
  • South American Indian
  • portrait
  • Chetibo
  • Cla-hu-ma, secondary chief
  • Vin-vin-ne, wife of chief
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 50541. 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.