Original Painting of a Navajo Game of Horse Racing [SOLD]

According to Dorothy Dunn (1968), "Robert Chee is an energetic and capable young painter whose talents seem only partially indicated in his many pictures."  Clara Lee Tanner (1973) stated "Chee showed considerable potential which was never fully realized.  He died late in 1971." 

What might Chee have accomplished had he lived beyond the age of 34?  He had a short artistic life but certainly made the most of it.  Of the paintings of his we have seen it is easy to state that he was extremely talented.  It is interesting to speculate what careers he and Quincy Tahoma, who passed away at age 39, might have had had they been painting in the 1970s and 1980s during the revival of interest in Native American art.

This painting is an excellent portrayal of the interest by Navajo in gambling.  The gallery of Navajo men are most likely gambling on the outcome of the race between the two horsemen pulling young boys on skin sleds.

Condition:  The painting appears to be in original condition but it has not been examined out of the frame.  It has recently been framed using archival materials

Provenance:  from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: a changing art by Clara Lee Tanner