George Catlin (1796 – 1872) was an American painter, author, and traveller, who specialised in portraits of Native Americans in the Old West. Travelling to the American West five times during the 1830s, Catlin was the first white man to depict Plains Indians in their native territory.
Travelling with fur company representatives, cavalry officers, and later alone on multiple western journeys, George Catlin gathered drawings, sketches, and notes that would allow him to create an “Indian Gallery”- a collection of more than 500 paintings of American Indians. By the end of the decade, he would be widely recognised as the most celebrated painter of America’s native people.
“I have visited forty-eight different tribes, the greater part of which I found speaking different languages, and containing in all 400,000 souls. I have brought home safe, and in good order, 310 portraits in oil, all painted in their native dress, and in their own wigwams . . . as well as a very extensive and curious collection of their costumes, and all their other manufactures, from the size of a wigwam down to the size of a quill or a rattle.”
For more information about George Catlin, and for earlier works, see part 1 also.
This is part 2 of a 7-part series on the works of George Catlin:
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| 1832 Fort Union, Mouth of the Yellowstone River, 2000 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.5 x 36.6 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 H'co-a-h'co-a-h'cotes-min, No Horns on His Head, a Brave ( Nez Perce Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Ha-na-tá-nu-maúk, Wolf Chief, Head Chief of the Tribe ( Mandan Nation ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Háw-che-ke-súg-ga, He Who Kills the Osages, Chief of the Tribe ( Missouria Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Hee-láh-dee, Pure Fountain, Wife of The Smoke ( Ponca Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Hee-oh'ks-te-kin, Rabbit's Skin Leggings ( Nez Perce ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Hidatsa Village, Earth-covered Lodges, on the Knife River, 1810 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.5 x 36.6 cm See photograph below: |
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| 1832 Hidatsa Village. The Mandan and Hidatsa peoples lived in villages consisting of earth lodges - contemporary reconstruction. |
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| 1832 I-o-wáy, One of Black Hawk's Principal Warriors oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Interior View of the Medicine Lodge, Mandan O-kee-pa Ceremony oil on canvas 58.7 x 71.1 cm American Museum of Western Art, Denver, Colorado |
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| 1832 Jee-hé-o-hó-shah, Cannot Be Thrown Down, a Warrior oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Kah-béck-a, The Twin, Wife of Bloody Hand oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Ki-hó-go-waw-shú-shee, Brave Chief, Chief of the Tribe ( Omaha Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 L'har-e-tar-rúshe, Ill-natured Man, a Skidi ( Wolf ) Pawnee ( Pawnee Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 La-kée-too-wi-rá-sha, Little Chief, a Tapage Pawnee Warrior oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC See photograph below: |
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| La-kée-too-wi-rá-sha Pawnee 1857 |
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| 1832 La-dóo-ke-a, Buffalo Bull, a Grand Pawnee Warrior oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Lá-shah-le-stáw-hix, Man Chief, a Republican Pawnee oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Le-sháw-loo-láh-le-hoo, Big Elk, Chief of the Skidi ( Wolf ) ( Pawnee Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Magnificent Clay Bluffs, 1800 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.4 x 36.7 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mah-táhp-ta-a, Rushes through the Middle, a Brave ( Mandan Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mah-tó-che-ga, Little Bear, a Hunkpapa Brave ( Hunkpapa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC See photograph below: |
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| Mah-tó-che-ga Running Antelope, Hunkpapa 1872 |
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| 1832 Mah-tó-he-ha, Old Bear, a Medicine Man ( Mandan Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Máh-to-tóh-pa, Four Bears, Second Chief in Mourning ( Mandan Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Meach-o-shín-gaw, Little White Bear, a Distinguished Brave ( Konza Tribe, also Kanza or Kaw Nation ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mi-néek-ee-súnk-te-ka, Mink, a Beautiful Girl ( Mandan Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mix-ke-móte-skin-na, Iron Horn, a Warrior ( Blackfoot / Siksika Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mong-shóng-sha, Bending Willow, Wife of Great Chief ( Ponca Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Mouth of the Platte River, 900 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.5 x 26.6 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Múk-a-tah-mish-o-káh-kaik, Black Hawk, Prominent Sac Chief ( Sac and Fox Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Náh-pope, Soup, adviser to Black Hawk ( Sac and Fox Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Náh-se-ús-kuk, Whirling Thunder, Eldest Son of Black Hawk ( Sac and Fox Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 No-o-mún-nee, Walks in the Rain, a Warrior ( Iowa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 No-wáy-ke-súg-gah, He Who Strikes Two at Once, a Brave ( Oto Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Notch-ee-níng-a, No Heart, (called White Cloud), Chief of the Tribe ( Iowa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Nóm-ba-mon-nee, Double Walker, a Brave ( Omaha Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 O-rón-gás-see, Bear-catcher, a Celebrated Warrior ( Kansa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Om-pah-tón-ga, Big Elk, a Famous Warrior ( Omaha Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Oó-je-en-á-he-a, Woman Who Lives in a Bear's Den ( Crow Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Pa-rís-ka-róo-pa, Two Crows, a Band Chief ( Crow Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Pah-ta-cóo-chee, Shooting Cedar, a Brave ( Iowa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Peh-tó-pe-kiss, Eagle's Ribs, a Piegan Chief ( Blackfoot Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Prairie Meadows Burning oil on canvas 27.8 x 35.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 River Bluffs, 1320 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.5 x 36.6 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Seet-sé-be-a, Midday Sun, a Pretty Girl ( Hidatsa Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Sha-có-pay, The Six, Chief of the Plains ( Ojibwa tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Sha-kó-ka, Mint, a Pretty Girl ( Mandan Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Sháw-da-mon-nee, There He Goes, a Brave ( Omaha Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Sioux Encamped on the Upper Missouri, Dressing Buffalo Meat and Robes oil on canvas 28.6 x 36.6 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 South Side of Buffalo Island, Showing Buffalo Berries in the Foreground oil on canvas 28.5 x 36.7 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Square Hills, 1200 Miles above St. Louis oil on canvas 28.5 x 36.5 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Stán-au-pat, Bloody Hand, Chief of the Tribe ( Arikara Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Stu-mick-o-súcks, Buffalo Bull's Back Fat, Head Chief, Blood Tribe ( Blackfoot Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Táh-téck-a-da-háir, Steep Wind, a Brave of the Bad Arrow Points Band ( Dakota - Sioux Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Tcha-aés-ka-ding, Grandson of Buffalo Bull's Back Fat ( Blackfoot Tribe - directly in line to become Chief ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |
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| 1832 Te-ah'-ke-ra-lée-re-coo, The Cheyenne, a Republican Pawnee ( Cheyenne Tribe ) oil on canvas 73.7 x 60.9 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC |