The image displays a landscape framed in an oval shape, depicting a river scene. People and canoes are near the river, engaging in activities like fishing and paddling. Grassy banks lead to a settlement area where groups of people are gathered near simple structures. Tall trees form a canopy above the settlement. The brushstrokes are detailed, creating texture in the foliage and terrain. The color palette is earthy, with greens, yellows, browns, and blues dominating the scene. Taller trees reach into the sky in the background, completing the view.
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The image displays a landscape framed in an oval shape, depicting a river scene. People and canoes are near the river, engaging in activities like fishing and paddling. Grassy banks lead to a settlement area where groups of people are gathered near simple structures. Tall trees form a canopy above the settlement. The brushstrokes are detailed, creating texture in the foliage and terrain. The color palette is earthy, with greens, yellows, browns, and blues dominating the scene. Taller trees reach into the sky in the background, completing the view.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

A Small Village - Payaguas Indians

George Catlin

Date
1854/1869
Medium
oil on card mounted on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 47.6 x 63.3 cm (18 3/4 x 24 15/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1965.16.303
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CAB

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • Village
  • American Paintings, Catlin
  • Payaguas
  • South American Indian
  • architecture
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 50611. 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.