Native American artists. Julian Martinez (b San Ildefonso Pueblo, NM, 1885; d San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1943) and his wife, Maria Martinez [n?e Montoya] (b San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1887; d San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1980), made and decorated pottery in San Ildefonso Pueblo, NM; in all their work together Maria was the potter and Julian the painter. Maria first learnt pottery-making from her aunt Nicolasa Pe?a Montoya (1863-1904) in the early 20th century. There were few other potters at the Tewa pueblo of San Ildefonso. In 1907 the newly founded School of American Archaeology (now School of American Research, Santa Fe, NM) began excavations in nearby Rio de los Frijoles canyon, whose sites are ancestral to the people of San Ildefonso. Maria was among the people of San Ildefonso hired to assist with the examination of excavated sherds, and she was encouraged by Edgar Lee Hewett (1865-1946), the director, to replicate the ancient pottery forms. Maria shaped, slipped and polished pots, and Julian painted them.
See the Abbreviations for further details.
