Description:
Watercolor on paper. Signed l.r.: Julian Martinez, Stamped u.r.: PLANCHE 45.
From: American Indian Painters, Vol. 2, p. 6: Maria Martinez is the most famous pottery maker in America. Julian was her husband, associate, and first assistant. He designed and decorated the pottery made by Maria. In partnership with his wife, they usually won first prize for pottery in all Indian Fairs whether in Santa Fe, Gallup, or the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. He was also a well-known painter in his own right, belonging to the older generation. In mural painting, he did interesting work and was fairly well-known in the Southwest. He has one mural representing ceremonies and symbols of the San Ildefonso people at the Indian School in Santa Fe. Until recently he usually presided at the art exhibition at the big tribal affairs in Gallup. Naturally being associated with such a famous name, his watercolors have found homes in many of the museums of the country. He but recently departed for the Happy hunting grounds. "Buffalo Dancer" is a good, but not very important example of his work. It is the only one that could be obtained at this time. In a general way, his style and subjects are very much like those of the other older artists of the Rio Grande Valley who were also self-taught. (Collection, Oscar Brousse Jacobson) Map references: San Ildefonso Pueblo (N.M.)