Gaspard (1850) Latoix Sold at Auction Prices

Gaspard de Latoix, (1858-1918, English/American), "Two Indians on horseback," 1890, Oil on canvas laid to waxed canvas, 26" H x 35.5" W

Gaspard de Latoix (1858-1918, English/American) "Two Indians on horseback," 1890 Oil on canvas laid to waxed canvas Initialed and dated lower right: G.L. 1890, titled on a gallery label affixed to the stretcher 26" H x 35.5" W Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, Inc., New York, NY The John F. Eulich Collection of American Western Art, Dallas, TX Sale: Sotheby's New York, December 3, 1998, Lot 206 Private Collection, Santa Barbara, California Exhibitions: Los Angeles, CA, "Los Angeles County Museum of Art," October 14-December 14, 1975 Notes: In 1880, Gaspard de Latoix, alongside his longtime partner, Isabell, ventured from England to America. Upon discovering the West, the self-taught draftsman would dedicate his life and career to portraying New Mexico, the Plains Indians, and the like subject matter, many years before the Taos Society of Artists would be founded. He would explore and paint alongside other notable artists such as Frank Sauerwein and Charles Craig before the establishment of the Taos Society of Artists. His talent and acclaim would lead to showings at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Boston Art Club. Latoix would move back to England and continue to paint and take commissions for more classic European subjects. Very little is known about the artist's later life as he adopted a nomadic lifestyle. In the present example warm, rich earth tones in the horses and two dignified figures in extreme contrast to the cool, vivid, blue sky are featured. The stillness of the present scene is also offset by the movement of the horse's leg and the pair of small birds' overhead. The detail of the central figures is remarkable and shows the love the artist felt for the subject. Inspiring many artists throughout history, the Pueblo Indians continued to be the inspiration and remain a staple within the Western art genre.