Jose Antonio Velasquez Oil Painting, 1971

Item Details

Jose Antonio Velasquez (Honduran, 1906 – 1985)
Untitled (Honduran village with Spanish mission, likely San Antonio de Oriente), 1971
Oil painting on canvas
Signed to the lower right
Inscribed “Honduras CA” below signature

Jose Antonio Velasquez is considered to be one of the first American Primitive artists known for his ‘paisajes primitivos’. His work often depicts Honduran street scenes particularly of the town of San Antonio de Oriente not far from the capital of Tegucigalpa where he lived for thirty years. Self-taught, Velasquez began painting in 1927 just before moving to San Antonio de Oriente. Initially not finding much success as a painter Velasquez also worked as a barber and telegraph operator. In the 1950s he began to find recognition for his work participating in the first Latin American Art Biennial of 1951, exhibiting in Washington DC in 1954, and earning the Pablo Zelaya Sierra National Art Prize in 1955. In the next decades he continued to exhibit around the world and inspired the 1973 documentary The World of a Primitive Painter produced by Shirley Temple Black. His work is held in many private and public collections including the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC.

Condition

- discoloration to joints of the frame; finish loss, minor nicks, and abrasions to the frame.

Dimensions

- measures frame; sight measures 11.25" W x 9.0" H.

Item #

ITMG458563