The painting depicts a scene with a broad vista of the sea meeting a sky with scattered clouds. The brushstrokes are detailed, showing numerous figures and activities. The color palette includes blues, beiges, and greens, with vibrant reds for the figures. In the foreground, people are gathered on a sandy shoreline, with more people and canoes visible in the distance. Elevated land in the background has trees and tents or tepees against a pastel sky.
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The Griffin Entering the Harbor at Mackinaw. August 27, 1679

George Catlin (American, 1796 - 1872)

1847/1848

Medium
oil on canvas
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 38 x 56.2 cm (14 15/16 x 22 1/8 in.)
Culture
American
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CAB
Credit line
Paul Mellon Collection
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Little Ones profiles and older: it shows gentle subjects for the very young. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art