Portrait of Alexander Culbertson

Painting

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Kentucky State Parks

Portrait of Alexander Culbertson: A portrait painting of an older man shown seated on rocks with his right leg crossed over his left, mostly facing the viewer with his body angled towards the viewer's right. He wears a blue-green shirt with a black scarf tied around his collar, black pants, and a black brimmed hat. He holds a brown pipe in his left hand. The man has blue-gray eyes and dark hair with some gray mixed in his beard and moustache. In the background is a hilly, forested area and a river. Two people appear to be sailing on a cargo vessel on the river.
Portrait of Alexander Culbertson

A portrait painting of an older man shown seated on rocks with his right leg crossed over his left, mostly facing the viewer with his body angled towards the viewer's right. He wears a blue-green shirt with a black scarf tied around his collar, black pants, and a black brimmed hat. He holds a brown pipe in his left hand. The man has blue-gray eyes and dark hair with some gray mixed in his beard and moustache. In the background is a hilly, forested area and a river. Two people appear to be sailing on a cargo vessel on the river.

Name/Title

Portrait of Alexander Culbertson

Entry/Object ID

JJA.1995.4

Description

This is an oil painting of Alexander Culbertson (1809-1879), husband of Natawista Iksina (circa 1825-1893) and an agent with the American Fur Company who also served as an interpreter and special agent for the United States Government. The portrait is attributed to John James Audubon (1785-1851), but could also have been done by John Mix Stanley (1814-1872). The image shows Culbertson sitting with his legs crossed on some rocks in a semi-profile position. His face is mostly turned toward the viewer. He wears a black brimmed hat, a double-breasted dark blue-green shirt with a black scarf necktie, and black pants. He holds a brown pipe in his left hand. In the background is a hilly, forested area and a river (possibly the Missouri River). There is a cargo vessel (possibly a flat boat) painted on the river with what appears to be a couple of people onboard. The painting is in a gilded frame. A handwritten inscription on the back of the frame may have been done by Natawista Iksina, Alexander Culbertson's wife and a relative by marriage to John M. Culbertson of Cincinnati, Ohio. The inscription says, "John M. Culbertson / from his cousin / Natawista."

Artwork Details

Medium

Wood, Canvas, Oil Paint

Subject

Portrait

Subject Person or Organization

Culbertson, Alexander, 1809-1879

Collection

John James Audubon Museum Collection

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

John James Audubon, 1785-1851

Attribution

Attributed to

Role

Artist

Date made

1843 - 1843

Time Period

19th Century

Place

Location

Fort Union

State/Province

North Dakota

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Dimensions

Height

16 in

Width

18 in

Depth

1-1/4 in