Original Painting of a San Ildefonso Pueblo Eagle Dancer [SOLD]

Julián Martinez is best known for painting the pottery of his wife, Maria Martinez, but he was an accomplished painter as early as 1920, often depicted pueblo dancers and geometric imagery. Once he became totally involved with painting Maria's pottery there was little time for painting easel art.

He was particularly fond of painting warriors on horseback, often changing little but the imagery on the shield or perhaps the body paint on the Indian.  He also painted single pueblo dancers such as this Eagle Dancer. 

Martinez's paintings were among those selected by Mary Jane Colter to decorate La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe.  He received several commissions for murals at the Santa Fe Indian School; Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (1935); and at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe.

Condition: appears to be in original condition although it has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading:  Modern by Tradition: American Indian Painting in the Studio Style by Bruce Bernstein, et al