Snodgrass (1968) stated "As one of the original students at Santa Fe Indian School, the artist (Richard Martinez) assisted in the execution of a mural series in the student dining room in 1936. He painted as early as 1920, and, in 1950, he was still paining mythological and ceremonial subjects..." According to James Bialac, as published in Tanner (1973), and Snodgrass, Martinez was not painting in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

This painting on paper is titled in pencil on verso "Plumed Serpent - Rain Clouds & ¾ Circle" and signed Richard Martinez c.1927. Ink stamped on verso is Dr. Bertha P. Dutton, P. O. Box 5153, Santa Fe, NM 87501. In pencil by her stamped name is Ind. 35 Scheduled.

Paintings by Richard Martinez seem to be rarer than those by other early San Ildefonso artists. Perhaps he was not so prolific. This painting is mounted and matted but not framed.

Condition: The painting is in very good condition. There is just the very slightest fading of the paper from previous matting but it is nearly impossible to see because it is so minor.

Provenance: ex. coll. Dr. Bertha P. Dutton

ex. coll. Ray and Judy Dewey

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting by Clara Lee Tanner