Original Painting “Devoted Young Shepardess” [SOLD]

Harrison Begay was born in 1914 on the Navajo (Diné) Reservation. He attended the Santa Fe Indian School and studied under art teacher Dorothy Dunn. His distinctive style of painting has been popular for over 75 years. His art has influenced an entire generation of Native American painters.

In this excellent painting, Begay depicts a Navajo girl hand feeding grass to her sheep while her faithful companion dog sits on the hill behind her. The Navajo Yei God, in the form of a rainbow, provides protection for her. Rain falls in the far distance. Unlike so many of his contemporaries who use strong colors, Begay has an affinity for the softer pastel hues. This renders his paintings with a mellow feeling.

This painting is signed with his traditional English/Navajo names. It is not dated but was purchased in Gallup, NM in the 1980s. The painting is matted but not framed. It is shrink-wrapped for protection.

This painting is a good compliment to another Begay painting, our item number C3135G which is of a young Navajo girl leading her baby burro on a walk.