Original Painting of a Black Fawn Under a Protective Rainbow [SOLD]

Richard Martinez (1904-1987) Opa Mu Nu was one of the earlier painters from San Ildefonso Pueblo, painting as early as 1920.  He was not old enough to have attended the San Ildefonso Day School during the tenure of teacher Esther Hoyt during 1900-1907, as students had to be ages 5 to 12 to attend. He was one of the original students at Santa Fe Indian School and was commissioned to paint a mural in the student dining room in 1936.  He was well established as an artist before The Studio at the Santa Fe Indian School was begun in 1932 under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn. 

Martinez’s paintings follow the style of The Studio in that there are minimal ground plane and background elements.  The focus of the painting is the idea the artist wished to promote.  In this one, he has focused on a single black fawn under the protection of a rainbow.  The ground plane is white and almost not visible. 

Condition: appears to be in original condition

Provenance: from a resident of New Mexico in the process of relocating her residence

Recommended Reading: Modern by Tradition: American Indian Painting in the Studio Style by Bruce Bernstein, et al