Mounted War Party Scouring a Thicket

1846-1848 · Painting · 50.9 × 69.2 cm

Can I see it?

Unknown

Where is “Mounted War Party Scouring a Thicket” now? Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Unknown.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Washington, D.C., United States

The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.

In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the painting

George Catlin’s descriptions of Native Americans reveal his respect for the tribes and nations that he feared would soon vanish. “Every one of these red sons of the forest (or rather of the prairie) is a knight and lord . . . the only things which he deems worthy of his exertions are to mount his snorting steed, with his bow and quiver slung, his arrow-shield upon his arm, and his long lance glistening in the war-parade . . .” (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 1, no. 4, 1841; reprint 1973)

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Details

Accession number: 1985.66.586

What it shows

Horse riders Evil State of being Warfare

In the catalog

Paintings Oil American painting Romanticism Realism 19th century

Sources

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Image: Smithsonian American Art Museum — CC0

In the life of George Catlin

The whole life

1844
Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolio
He publishes a portfolio of 25 plates with hunting scenes of the West.
1845
Death of his wife Clara and a son in Paris
In Paris his wife Clara, whom he had married in 1828 and who had accompanied him on one of his journeys west, dies of consumption, as does their youngest son. The remaining children are taken in by his wife’s relatives.
1845
Moves to Paris
He moves with his family from England to Paris.
1848
Notes on eight years in Europe
He publishes Notes of Eight Years’ Travels and Residence in Europe.

All works