William Clark
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.71.36
Tags
About this artwork
Born Caroline County, Virginia
Art Historical Context
This 1832 portrait by George Catlin captures William Clark, the celebrated explorer of the Lewis and Clark expedition, seated in a study-like interior. Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting shows Clark surrounded by objects that reflect his later role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Missouri, including a globe, books, documents, an inkwell, and quill. The composed setting emphasizes his transition from frontier adventurer to administrator shaping early American policy in the West. George Catlin, born in 1796, devoted much of his career to documenting the people, landscapes, and key f...