Original Oil Painting of a New Mexico Landscape by Walter Bambrook

This oil painting by Albuquerque artist Walter Bambrook is of the Bosque area near Albuquerque by the Rio Grande.  The build-up of clouds indicates a late afternoon with intermittent sun shining on the golden leaves and the chamisa in the foreground.  It is early Fall when the chamisa blossoms are still yellow, but will turn brown soon, and the aspen still holds its golden quivering leaves, soon to fall to the ground. It is one of the most beautiful times of day by the river and Bambrook has captured it at its finest.

Walter Earle Bambrook (1910-1984) was born in Albuquerque and lived in Albuquerque all his life. He painted early in life and at the age of thirteen won an award in a national competition by the Art Institute of Chicago. During his lifetime, he received many awards from other prestigious institutions.

He attended Albuquerque High School and began his art education at the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, he began his four-year art training under Carl Von Hassler. After his formal art education was completed, Bambrook taught many private classes and groups at UNM.

Bambrook worked as printer for the Albuquerque newspapers for 20 years, after which he became the director of the New Mexico State Fair Art Gallery, a position he held until 1981. He also became a noted art instructor to many clients. His career choices left little time for him to pursue his passion for painting, but he managed to be as productive as possible. He was a well appreciated member of Albuquerque and following his death, he was honored by Albuquerque with a street named Walter Bambrook Place. [Hanson, 2025:81]

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Original Oil Painting of a New Mexico Landscape by Walter Bambrook is from the estate of the client to whom we sold this in 2011.

Reference and Recommended Reading: Hanson, Carl A. Painters in the Valley - A Biographical Directory of Albuquerque, New Mexico Area Artists 1880-1990. Sunstone Press, Santa Fe, 2025

TAGS: Western Art, Walter Bambrook