Special Value Offer: Original Watercolor of Two Warriors on Horseback [R]

Special Value Offer: we have been authorized to reduce the price of this painting from the original price of $6000 to a new price of $5000.

Romando Vigil was one of the San Ildefonso Pueblo self-taught artists in the early part of the 20th century. He was a leader within the San Ildefonso Watercolor Movement, a movement that caught fire during 1915 to 1917. It fostered an art form unmatched in the culture history of the world. These men portrayed tribal culture and local wildlife, attaining a flat decorative character, absent of backgrounds and foregrounds, and free of traditional perspective, with an unerring color sense. Their success in their presentations was due to their understanding the ceremonials they painted because they had participated in them since childhood. They understood the meanings of the symbolism they interpreted.

Vigil left the pueblo and lived in California for many years, yet he continued to paint pueblo images from memory.

He had an interesting life in California. He owned a motel during World War II, and he played bit parts in movies. He appeared in “Texas Ranger” (1929), “Pale Face” with Bob Hope (1937), and “Lone Star” with Clark Gable (1949). He also worked with Walt Disney Studios.

He painted murals while in California, and he was commissioned to paint a mural for the 1933 Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. He is well known for his painting of the “Thunderbird” at the Las Vegas Thunderbird Hotel.

This painting of two pueblo warriors is one of his early paintings, probably before he left San Ildefonso for California. It was executed in the flat style without background, but a land plane and rainbow were added for color and effect. I love the fact that he made the clouds so colorful and that he added two teepees, items not indigenous to pueblos. He probably felt that this would make it more “Indian” and increase its salability. Vigil’s execution of this painting is flawless. Each line was painted to perfection.

The painting has been framed in a custom frame by Tres Mowka Designs of Santa Fe, one of the city’s finest frame makers. They start with fresh wood and construct the frame, carve the design, and paint it red and then gold leaf over it all. Each of their frames is designed to enhance the art. I would estimate that the frame alone cost $1200 to $1500. The painting is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: from a family formerly of Santa Fe