Untitled San Ildefonso Female Dancer [SOLD]

Julián Martinez is most often associated with his wife, Maria Martinez, as the painter of her ceramics from the early 1900s until his death in 1943. He did, however, execute paintings on paper as well. He was one of the very early San Ildefonso self-taught easel artists. His watercolor paintings were a minor activity as compared to his brilliant achievements as the decorator of Maria’s pottery. He was painting watercolors before 1920 and continued as time permitted until his death.

This very well executed painting of a pueblo dancer carrying feathers in her hands is a good example of the talented artist’s watercolors. He was as careful outlining the subject for a painting as he was in preparing designs for pottery. In traditional pueblo fashion, there is no ground plane or sky or plant life in the painting. The single subject of the painting stands alone.

The Untitled San Ildefonso Female Dancer painting was first drawn with pencil, then filled in with paint.  The detail of each turquoise cluster on the necklace is a clear indication of the detail found throughout the painting.  The embroidery design of the skirt and vest were brilliantly executed.  The artist’s name was executed in orange paint, typical of Julian’s style of signing his work.  The painting most likely dates to the early 20^th century.

Condition: appears to be in good condition but has not been examined under the acidic mat.

Provenance: from the estate of a collector of Native American art from New York

Recommended Reading:  Modern by Tradition—American Indian Painting in the Studio Style by Bruce Bernstein and W. Jackson Rushing