Adobe Gallery Blog
Comanche Dance at San Ildefonso Pueblo Painting by Julián Martinez - C3874R
Julián Martinez (1885-1943) Pocano - Coming of the Spirits is most often associated with his wife, Maria Martinez, as the painter of her ceramics from the early 1900s until his death in 1943. He did, however, execute paintings on paper as well. He was one of the very early San Ildefonso self-taught easel artists. His watercolor paintings were a minor activity as compared to his brilliant achievements as the decorator of Maria's pottery. He was painting watercolors before 1920 and continued as time permitted until his death.
This is one of Julian's early paintings, probably from 1930. It once hung in room 1210 of Santa Fe's La Fonda Hotel. It is still in the frame in which it was at that time. Sometime, in the 1960s, the La Fonda underwent renovations and all the original Native paintings from the rooms were sold.