
Read the visual description
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.