Object Details
- Artist
- George Catlin, born Wilkes-Barre, PA 1796-died Jersey City, NJ 1872
- Sitter
- Big Elk
- Luce Center Label
- A warrior of the Omaha tribe, Big Elk sat for his portrait, according to George Catlin, “with his tomahawk in his hand, and face painted black, for war.” Catlin probably painted this image at Fort Leavenworth (in today’s Kansas) in 1832. Big Elk also sat for artist Charles Bird King (1785-1862) some years earlier in Washington. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 2, no. 34, 1841; reprint 1973)
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr.
- 1832
- Object number
- 1985.66.114
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 29 x 24 in. (73.7 x 60.9 cm)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Dress\Indian dress
- Dress\accessory\jewelry
- Indian\Omaha
- Portrait male\full length
- Object\weapon\axe
- Record ID
- saam_1985.66.114
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7f3de2f00-28b7-4b20-9acf-a4ddffd68a4d
