San Ildefonso Painting of an American Bison [SOLD]

This is a realistic rendition of an American Bison by Romando Vigil (1902-1978) Tse Ye Mu - Falling Cloud. He has shown him standing on a snowy hilltop as if eyeing that evergreen bush for lunch. It is an excellent presentation with the hair of the bison’s head in minute detail.  The plant materials are presented in good scale and detail.

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 cultural history of the world.

Romando Vigil was married to Juanita Montoya, a sister of Maria Martinez. They were the parents of famous potter Carmelita Dunlap. When Juanita died in 1933 at the age of 35, Maria and her sister Desideria Montoya Sanchez raised Carmelita.  She would stay with Maria a few months then with Desideria a few months.  Romando was then free to pursue his art and career.  Almost continuously from 1933 to 1996, he was featured in expositions, including European tours. His paintings are in many museums and private collections.

Romando Vigil moved to California in the 1950s and was employed as a draftsman by Walt Disney Studios.  He returned to San Ildefonso in the 1970s.  It was probably after his return from California that this painting was completed.  It is signed in lower right with his Tewa name, but not dated.

Condition: appears to be in original condition

Provenance: from the collection of a client from Albuquerque who had purchased it from Adobe Gallery in 2004.  She agreed to return it to us for our painting exhibit of San Ildefonso artists of the 20^th century.

Recommended Reading: American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn (1903-1992)