Picuris Pueblo Original Painting “Indian Pueblo Village” [SOLD]

There is very little information published on Juan Jose Martinez of Picuris Pueblo.  He was born around 1885 but we have not been able to find when he passed away or whether he was a painter throughout his life or if he only painted occasionally.  This painting is only the second one we have ever had in the gallery.

As often done by natives of Taos Pueblo, this artist painted more in the European style than in the Santa Fe Indian School Studio style.  Albert Lujan and Albert Looking Elk, both of Taos Pueblo, painted in this style and it has been surmised that the famous Taos artists of the early 20^th century had their influence on these gentlemen.  This influence must have spread to Picuris Pueblo which is the closest neighbor to Taos Pueblo.

There are many reference books regarding New Mexico Pueblo painters but so many of them are not completely comprehensive on the earlier artists.  Perhaps these self-taught artists never had government school records indicating their artistic training or talents.  That could be the case with this artist, Juan Jose Martinez of Picuris Pueblo.  Picuris is one of the smallest and most northern of the New Mexico pueblos and perhaps the young ones did not attend government schools where biographical information was accrued on them.  This artist did not attend the Santa Fe Indian School and there is no published information on him other than a notation that he was from Picuris Pueblo.  This watercolor painting by Martinez is quite well executed and somewhat primitive in style but most charming in its presentation. 

Interestingly, this painting is of the multi-storied Taos Pueblo.  It shows three pueblo men on a blanket in the foreground near the bridge over the river.  There is a frontal view of a pueblo woman with a pot on her head.  Small trees and grasses are in the foreground.  There is no skyline or sun or clouds.

Condition: Overall in good condition visually with only some damage to the paper at the very edges.  There is acid-burn on the back of the painting from previously having been backed with cardboard, but the painting has now been re-framed using acid-free materials.

Provenance: from an estate in Texas