Santa Fe Indian School Studio Painting of a Deer, Trees, Plants and a Bird [SOLD]

This painting is one of ten in a collection of works by students from The Studio of the Santa Fe Indian School.  The Studio was established in 1932 by Dorothy Dunn. The Studio painting style is characterized by flat, two-dimensional figures on a plain background. Dunn encouraged her students to paint images that reflected their heritage or things with which they were familiar. 

These paintings are important pieces of Native American art history. While artists like Harrison Begay, Pop Chalee and Pablita Velarde went on to be successful artists, there were many who returned to their homes and continued to live and work unknown to the artistic community. 

A student named Lorenzo Duran from Picuris Pueblo painted this small image of a deer. He has incorporated all of the distinctive elements of The Studio style; a single flat figure against a minimal background with three delicately drawn plants and a small yellow bird flying overhead.

The stamp of The Studio, U.S. Indian School, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the pencil signature Lorenzo Duran Picuris Pueblo are on verso of painting.  The same information and H-25 was on a piece of cardboard on the back of the painting. When we had it re-matted, we had the stamp and signature photocopied and they are on the back of the newly matted piece. This is in the original frame.  The cardboard backing is still available and will be provided. 

It is believed that Conrad Hilton purchased this painting for his first hotel in Albuquerque and that is what the H-25 represents.  A similar notation appears on most of the paintings in this group.  In an interview with Ramos Sanchez, one of the students, he indicated that Hilton purchased paintings by students for his first hotel.

Condition: excellent condition with new mat board and backing and original frame and glass.

Recommended Reading: American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from a family in Albuquerque who unfortunately did not know its history or provenance.