Original Painting of an Eagle Chasing a Rabbit [SOLD]

Julian Martinez was an accomplished easel artist in the 1920s, before he began painting the pottery of his famous wife, Maria.

This Native painting depicts a bird of prey, most likely an eagle, shown swooping down upon a rabbit. The portrayal of the eagle is stylized and painted with striking color. The leading edge of the wing shows a curved surface in bright red. The black-tipped white feathers extend almost to the edge of the wing where smaller feathers stream from the wing tips. The tail feathers are depicted in a similar fashion but without the four end feathers. Interestingly, the head of the bird is adorned with a crest in brown and green that draws attention to the eye and adds an additional sense of fierceness to the eagle. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the swooping bird, and not the unsuspecting rabbit.

This appears to be an earlier painting by Julian Martinez.  It is signed in the lower right corner. It has recently been framed by floating the painting without an outer mat and with a black frame with a gold-toned fillet.  All acid-free materials were used.  It is ready to hang and enjoy.

Recommended Reading:  The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters, by Patrick D. Lester. This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the extensive Native art collection of a resident of Idaho