Popovi Da Original Painting of Drummer and Child [SOLD]

This original painting was made by Popovi Da of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Popovi's name appears often in the world of Native American art, but usually in connection with pottery. As the son of Maria Martinez and eventually one of her collaborators, he focused his efforts largely on ceramics, particularly after his father Julian's death in 1943. Paintings by Popovi surface infrequently. We are delighted when they do, because they are consistently inventive and appealing works.

With this piece, Popovi presented a depiction of a pueblo drummer and a small child. The drummer faces the viewer directly, carries a drum in his left hand, and plays it with the beater in his right hand. He stares directly ahead, perhaps struggling to maintain focus as the child grabs his left arm. Popovi's color palette is appealing, and his figures are rich in detail and character, resulting in a painting that is every bit as beautiful as the remarkable pots for which the artist has received international acclaim.

The painting is signed Po-Povi in lower right. It is framed beautifully, using archival materials.

Popovi Da (1922-1971) Red Fox was the son of famous San Ildefonso Pueblo artists Maria Martinez and Julian Martinez. He was born on April 10, 1922 at San Ildefonso Pueblo. He formally and legally changed his name from Tony Martinez to his Pueblo name, Popovi Da. He was educated at the Santa Fe Indian School, where he graduated in 1939. Da was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He lived most of his life at San Ildefonso Pueblo. Da claimed varied occupations: arts and crafts shop owner, Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo, ceramics painter and designer, silversmith, and painter. He was elected Governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo in 1952, and was Chairman of the All-Indian Pueblo Council.

Like his father who painted the designs on Maria's pots, Da most frequently worked with symbolic designs and geometric figures. After his father's death in 1943, he did little painting. Instead, he assisted his mother with the decoration of her clay forms and developed a two-color firing process that produced the unique black-on-black pottery for which Maria is famous. Da passed away on October 17, 1971 in Santa Fe. He is generally regarded as a significant and influential member of one of the most widely recognized families in Native art.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Popovi Da Original Painting of Drummer and Child is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: The Arts of the North American Indian: Native Traditions in Evolution by Edwin Wade, et al.

TAGS: Maria Martinez, Julian Martinez. The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo, ceramics, silversmith, painter, pottery, Popovi Da