Richard Martinez was one of the earliest painters from San Ildefonso Pueblo. He was born in 1904 and was painting by 1920. Today, most people think of San Ildefonso for the pottery that is created there, but the pueblo has produced many talented easel artists.
Julian Martinez, who was the husband of legendary potter Maria, was an easel artist before he began painting his wife’s pottery.
His grandson, Tony Da, was probably the most famous of all that pueblo’s painters and potters. J.D. Roybal, Tonita Roybal, Jose Encarnacion Pena, Luis Gonzales and many other artists came from San Ildefonso.
Richard, whose pueblo name was Opa Mu Nu, was taught by Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School and continued to paint ceremonial and mythological subjects until he quit working in the 1960s. He died in 1987.
He was included in Clara Lee Tanner’s landmark book, Southwest Indian Painting.
This painting is titled Deer Dancer with Serpent. The Deer Dance is held in most of the Pueblos as a thank you to the spirit of the deer.
Below the dancer, you will see the image of a snake. It represents the Avanyu, a Tewa deity. Its image has been portrayed in rock art by the Pueblo people for centuries. The snake is a common design in Pueblo pottery.The Avanyu is responsible for delivering water to the Pueblos. When there is rain in the high country, you can hear the water rushing through the arroyos towards the fields where crops are waiting to be nourished. The sound is made by the Avanyu.
There is also a small altar in front of the dancer, and a triangular shaped item in the upper right-hand corner that appears to be moving into the sky, propelled by an arrow.
