Miniature San Ildefonso Painting of a Single Antelope Dancer by J.D. Roybal [SOLD]

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J.D. Roybal, San Ildefonso Pueblo Painter

San Ildefonso Pueblo artist J. D. Roybal is known by most collectors for his Koosa clown figures, mostly in note card size, but he was quite adept at painting larger images and very good at illustrating traditional dance figures such as this Antelope Dancer. The costuming detail is quite remarkable, and the facial expression reflects the seriousness of the dancer.

J. D. Roybal (1922-1978) grew up under the artistic influence of his well-known uncle, Awa Tsireh. Early in his education, he studied at St. Catherine's School in Santa Fe and at the Business College of Santa Fe. In the early 1950s he and Julia were married and it was then that he started producing pueblo dance designs on hand-painted Christmas cards and note cards. By 1955 he was seriously painting larger works and recognition for his talents came from the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the Philbrook in Oklahoma. He received a consistent string of first prizes in painting for each year since the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Shows began.

Artist Signature - J.D. Roybal, San Ildefonso Pueblo PainterClara Lee Tanner’s book Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art praises Roybal’s skill and highlights a few notable accomplishments: “Obviously influenced by his famous uncle, J. D. Roybal has used water-based paints.  In most of his work there prevail fine color, excellent detail, small and fine outlines, gesturing figures, and a pleasing combination of heavy conventional themes with realistic subjects....Roybal placed in the 1968 Scottsdale show, and received an honorable mention in the 1971 Red Cloud Indian Art Show in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.” 

The painting is beautifully framed in a shadow box style black wood frame with a green front liner on the interior of the frame.


Condition: this Miniature San Ildefonso Painting of a Single Antelope Dancer by J.D. Roybal is in original condition

Provenance: from a family in Albuquerque

Reference: Clara Lee Tanner.  Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art

Relative Links: Relative Links: San Ildefonso PuebloTonita and Juan Cruz RoybalAlfonso Roybal - Awa TsirehpaintingTewaJ.D. Roybal

Close up view of a section of this painting.