George Catlin, Portrait of a Woman, ca. 1825-1830, oil on canvas, 19 7⁄8 x 14 in. (50.5 x 35.6 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Morse, 1984.139.1
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Portrait of a Woman
- Artist
- Date
- ca. 1825-1830
- Location
- Dimensions
- 19 7⁄8 x 14 in. (50.5 x 35.6 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Morse
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- oil on canvas
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Portrait female — unidentified
- Object Number
- 1984.139.1
Artwork Description
This woman may be George Catlin’s sister, Mary. In this portrait, she wears a decorative lace garment called a bertha and a colorful red shawl that help to soften her rather severe expression. Catlin had no formal training in portraiture, and the New York critic and painter William Dunlap labeled him “utterly incompetent.” Despite this unpromising beginning, Catlin went on to create his celebrated Indian Gallery, documenting the faces, personalities, and tribal rituals of Native Americans.
