CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.- The Field Museum announces the sale of 31 George Catlin paintings for $15.5 million through an anonymous bid. The O'Fallon Collection of American Indian Portraits by George Catlin was sold Thursday, December 2 by Sotheby's in New York, NY.

"Today, The Field Museum sold a collection of 31 paintings by George Catlin and three additional paintings at an auction held by Sotheby's in New York City. The paintings sold for $15.5 million," said Field Museum President John McCarter. "Proceeds from the sale will allow the Museum to establish a special endowment that will allow the Museum to acquire new objects and specimens to enhance our existing world class collections."

After serious and careful consideration, The Field Museum decided to deaccession and sell most of its 19th and early 20th century paintings of Native American subjects. While The Field Museum recognizes these artists' important contributions to the art of the American West, this is an opportunity for the Museum to continue to enhance its anthropological collections.