Early Life and Career

George Catlin, an American painter, author, and traveler, was born on July 26, 1796, in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. His fascination with Native Americans was kindled by his mother's stories of the western frontier and her capture by a tribe when she was a young girl. This early exposure sparked Catlin's interest in the American West, which would become the focus of his artistic career.

Artistic Contributions

Catlin's early work included engravings of sites along the route of the Erie Canal in New York State, published in Cadwallader D. Colden's Memoir. He later produced two major collections of paintings of American Indians and published a series of books chronicling his travels among native peoples.

• Ball-play of the Choctaw--Ball Up (65 x 81 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, United States), showcases Catlin's attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of Native American culture.
• Mó-sho-la-túb-bee, He Who Puts Out and Kills, Chief of the Tribe (73 x 60 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, United States), demonstrates Catlin's skill in portraiture and his dedication to preserving Native American heritage.
• A Seminole Woman (73 x 60 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, United States), highlights Catlin's ability to capture the beauty and dignity of Native American women.

Legacy and Later Life

Catlin's later years were marked by his attempts to sell his Indian Gallery to the U.S. government. Despite initial rejections, he continued to produce art, recreating over 400 paintings in his second collection, known as the "Cartoon Collection." His publications, including Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians (1841) and Last Rambles amongst the Indians of the Rocky Mountains and the Andes (1868), solidified his position as a leading authority on Native American culture. Important Links: * [https://WahooArt.com/@@/D3ZFEH-George-Catlin-Ball-play-of-the-Choctaw--Ball-Up](Ball-play of the Choctaw--Ball Up at WahooArt) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Catlin](George Catlin on Wikipedia)