Clara Lee Tanner (1977) stated of Richard Martinez "He favored mythological and ceremonial subjects, and judging by the variety of each, Richard must have been well-versed in the lore of his people. Too, this artist was greatly influenced by Awa Tsireh and his three styles, painting in all of them. Realism-plus-abstract themes appealed to Richard Martinez, for it gave him great freedom for his apparently vivid imagination."

This painting is signed in lower right Richard Martinez. On verso, in pencil notation, is Ind. 36, similar to another Richard Martinez painting (our inventory #C3177B) which has Ind. 35, and which was from the collection of Dr. Bertha Dutton. There is a rubber stamp on verso of the matting of Dr. Dutton's name and address.

The Thunderbird is beautifully rendered in colorful pastel paints on black paper. Hanging above the Thunderbird are stacked rainclouds. The Thunderbird and clouds are contained in a large circle with pendant elements on the exterior of the circle at the four cardinal points.

Condition: The painting is in excellent condition. There is one small scrape in the paper at the lower right outside of the art display and just above the artist's name. There is very minor fading of the paper from previous matting but it is rather insignificant.

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

ex. coll. Ray and Judy Dewey

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting by Clara Lee Tanner