Seminolee Indians, Prisoners at Fort Moultrie

George Catlin

National Gallery of Art

The painting depicts a group of eight people, five adults and three children, on a grassy ground. Four are seated, with the other four standing behind them. On the left appear to be four men, two sitting and two standing. Three of them hold long rifles, while one holds a long, thin pipe. They all wear colorful headbands or headdresses adorned with long feathers over their long black hair. Next to them is a seated person without a headband who may be a woman. She has an infant in her arms, laying in a large basket with a handle. Behind the woman is another child who touches the woman's dark hair. On the far right, an older child stands, facing the right, with one tall feather in their hair. The two visible children wear tunics, while the adults are wrapped in long tan garments, some of which are decorated with bright red designs. The two seated men on the left also wear bright yellow sashes with red and green designs on them. Many of the people are wearing colorful necklaces and earrings, and on their feet are tan shoes. The adults and the oldest child have red markings on their faces around their ears, and the child has circular designs adorning their arms, shoulder, and torso. All of the people have tan skin. Behind them, the sky is a pastel mix of pale pink and blue. The painting is surrounded by an oval border, beyond which is plain beige paper and a light green frame.