Original Painting of a Stylized Bird [SOLD]

Romando Vigil was one of the San Ildefonso 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. 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 small image of a bird, executed in watercolor and ink, is typical of some of the artist's early works, probably before he left the pueblo to move to California.  It is typical of a style of drawing and painting executed by the entire early San Ildefonso group of painters.

Condition:  The Original Painting of a Stylized Bird appears to be in original condition

Provenance: originally from Richard M Howard, Santa Fe art dealer and collector, now from a gentleman from Denver, Colorado

Recommended Reading: Indian Painters & White Patrons by J. J. Brody