Mrs. Putnam Catlin (Mary ​“Polly” Sutton)

George Catlin, Mrs. Putnam Catlin (Mary "Polly" Sutton), 1825, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1939.2.1
George Catlin, Mrs. Putnam Catlin (Mary "Polly" Sutton), 1825, watercolor on ivory, sight 3 1⁄8 x 2 5⁄8 in. (8.0 x 6.7 cm) rectangle, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1939.2.1
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Mrs. Putnam Catlin (Mary ​“Polly” Sutton)
Artist
Date
1825
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 3 1⁄8 x 2 5⁄8 in. (8.0 x 6.7 cm) rectangle
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Catlin, Putnam, Mrs. — bust
  • Portrait female — Sutton, Polly — bust
Object Number
1939.2.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1939.2.1

Artwork Description

In 1778, Catlin’s mother, Polly Sutton, and grandmother were captured by Indians at the surrender of Forty Fort, a stronghold built on a bluff above the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. There, the Battle of Wyoming had been fought against the combined forces of the British and Indians. Polly Sutton’s stories entranced her son George, and inspired his interest in Native American culture, as did visits to the Catlin home by various soldiers and explorers during the artist’s youth.

Works by this artist (18 items)

View all artworks
Winston Vargas, Children in Brownsville, Brooklyn, 1972, printed 2016, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2017.9.14, © 1972, Winston Vargas
Children in Brownsville, Brooklyn
Artist
Date1972, printed 2016
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Winston Vargas, Baseball Practice, George Washington High School, New York, 1960, printed 2016, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2017.9.4, © 1960, Winston Vargas
Baseball Practice, George Washington High School, New York
Artist
Date1960, printed 2016
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Winston Vargas, Domino Players, Washington Heights, New York, 1970, printed 2016, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2017.9.3, © 1970, Winston Vargas
Domino Players, Washington Heights, New York
Artist
Date1970, printed 2016
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Winston Vargas, Barbers, Washington Heights, New York, 1961, printed 2016, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2017.9.2, © 1961, Winston Vargas
Barbers, Washington Heights, New York
Artist
Date1961, printed 2016
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Artist
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Artist
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Artist
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Image Not Available
Les Quais de la Seine a Paris
Artist
Date1917
hand-colored etching on postcard
Not on view