Original Acrylic Painting “The Prayers” [SOLD]

The traditional Navajo homeland is the land between the four sacred mountains. Each of these mountains is associated with a direction and a color. Baje Whitethorn, Sr. has painted a visual map of Navajo land with the four sacred mountains as a frame:

1. The top of the painting is black, the color of the north and associated with Mt. Hesperus in Colorado.

2. The right side of the painting is white the color of the east and associated with Blanca Peak in Colorado.

3. The bright turquoise blue is the color of the south, with Mount Taylor in New Mexico being the sacred mountain of the south.

4. The color of the west is yellow. The sacred mountain of the west is the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona.

Within the sacred borders, Whitethorne has created images of important aspects of Navajo life and culture. The physical realm of the landscape of Monument Valley and the spiritual realm of the Yei are painted in vibrant, colorful brushstrokes. It is a loving tribute to the traditional ways of the Navajo People.

Baje Whitethorne, Sr. is an accomplished illustrator, having illustrated award-winning children’s books. He has his work in museums world-wide and is the recipient of numerous prizes for his artwork. His son, Baje Whitethorne, Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps and is also an artist.

This painting is signed Whitethorne and dated 2000 in the bottom right.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: the painting was purchased from the artist at the 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market by the current owners, Marvin and Betty Rubin.

Recommended Reading: Southwest Art Magazine, November 1990