Painting of a Navajo Man Riding a Donkey [R]

“In 1937, Nailor shared a studio in Santa Fe with Allan Houser. His paintings were exhibited in the home of Mrs. Hall Adams from 1943 to 1952. At the time of his death, he was living with his family at Picuris Pueblo, NM. Tragically, Nailor was only 35 years old when [he] died from injuries received in an attempt to help a woman whose husband was brutally beating her.” —Snodgrass, 1968.

Nailor’s paintings are among the rarer of the Dorothy Dunn student’s works, because of his early death. He was an extraordinary artist whose work was of the finest detail.

Dorothy Dunn said of Nailor’s paintings that “every detail of their design was accomplished with adroitness and polish. If one must use the term in connection with Indian art, his work was sophisticated.”

This painting does possess a certain air of sophistication. There is elegance in the manner in which the Navajo man is riding the donkey that, itself, airs elegance by holding its head high rather than drooped as so many poor donkeys do. There is neither stress nor fatigue on the part of either party, only a serene element of ease.

The painting is signed Gerald Nailor and dated ’51 in lower right. It appears to be in original excellent condition although it has not been examined out of the frame.

Provenance: ex. coll. Prescott, AZ collector