Portrait of a Woman

George Catlin, Portrait of a Woman, ca. 1825-1830, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Morse, 1984.139.1
Copied 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
Free to use

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
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/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.