Original Painting "La Cieneguilla Landscape" by Peter Grab

"La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site" by Peter Grab

This exceptional, undated painting by artist Peter Grab captures the historic and atmospheric La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site, located approximately three miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The location holds deep historical significance.

The painting depicts the dramatic volcanic escarpment that hosts hundreds of petroglyphs dating back to the pre-contact era. The ancient trade route, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (The Royal Road from Mexico City to Santa Fe), also passed directly along the base of this escarpment. The site is presently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Grab has rendered the escarpment in a realistic fashion, indicative of his commitment to plein air (on-location) painting. Grab aims for a "raw honest quality" in his work. He states, "What I like to do is to paint on location, you get an emotional experience you can't get in the studio. You let the landscape dictate what you put down and have no preconceived notions."

The composition is centered on the stark geography of the site. The solid rock core protruding from the top of the escarpment is powerfully highlighted against the blue sky. The downward slope features more pastel colors of the dirt and greenery, softening the overall image. The traditional adobe house situated at the base of the hill subtly fades into the natural landscape, a characteristic feature of structures built from earth.

The painting is signed by the artist in the lower left corner.

Peter Grab has become a respected figure in the Santa Fe art community: He began visiting Santa Fe as a young man. After completing his studies in painting and drawing at the Art Center in Pasadena, California, he relocated to Santa Fe, establishing it as his home in 1981. His fascination with the New Mexico landscape has been featured in publications such as Southwest Profile and Art of the West magazines. He has participated in numerous regional shows, including the Festival of the Arts New Discovery Show and the nationally acclaimed Dallas meets Santa Fe exhibit.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Original Painting "La Cieneguilla Landscape" by Peter Grab is from the estate of the client to whom we sold this in 2012

TAGS: Santa Fe, New Mexico, Western Art, Peter Grab