Untitled Patrocino Barela Wood Carving [SOLD]

This carved wood figure of a male is typical of the carvings of Patrocino Barela from the mid-20th century. He has prominent facial features-large nose and chin. He wears a beret which covers his hair completely. He has his hands forward and close together as if in prayer or contemplation. The wood is a beautiful rich color. The figure is signed on the underside PAT.BAR.

Patrocino Barela was a Hispanic folk artist who lived and worked near Taos, New Mexico. Barela was a gifted self-taught artist who discovered his creative vision about halfway through his lifetime. He went on to become quite famous but continued living in poverty. Barela passed away in 1964, when the woodshop in which he made his remarkable artworks caught fire. The widespread appreciation of his work has continued growing in the years since his death.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Untitled Patrocino Barela Wood Carving is from the inheritance of a client from California whose parents purchased it in Santa Fe in the 1950s or 1960s.

Recommended Reading: Spirit Ascendant - The Art and Life of Patrocino Barela by Edward Gonzales and David L. Witt.

TAGS: Patrocino Barela, Hispanic Arts and Culture, Bronze Sculpture and other Carving