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The image shows three men standing together. The person on the left holds a bow and arrow. The central figure holds a spear. The person on the right holds a shield and a club. All three have feathers in their hair and wear minimal clothing. They have distinct facial features and long, dark hair. The background is neutral with soft colors.
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The image shows three men standing together. The person on the left holds a bow and arrow. The central figure holds a spear. The person on the right holds a shield and a club. All three have feathers in their hair and wear minimal clothing. They have distinct facial features and long, dark hair. The background is neutral with soft colors.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

A Puelchee Chief and Two Young Warriors

George Catlin

Date
1854/1869
Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 46.6 x 62.4 cm (18 3/8 x 24 9/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1965.16.251
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CAB
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • American Paintings, Catlin
  • North American Indian
  • portrait
  • Bon-don-ne (That is He), secondary chief
  • Puelchee
  • Yep, warrior
  • Yo-har-ne, 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.

NGA object ID 50559. 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.