The Sunset Dance, Taos

Generously provided by Gilcrease Museum

In September every year the people of Taos Pueblo celebrated San Geronimo Day. The famous festivity had a duel focus, partly a Catholic devotional centered around the church of the same name near the pueblo, and partly a spiritual gathering of the Native people who embraced the pueblo itself. This, and at least one other oil painting (related image 493a), portray the latter scene, recognizing an event that was based on the Indians’ own beliefs and devotionals.

In his exhibitions at this time Sharp was gradually moving away from Indian themes. Critics recognized this trend but gave Sharp credit for now presenting the Indian in a "new guise," a nostalgic glow. "No one has done a better job in calling back from the past the almost legendary Indian than Mr. Sharp," wrote the Cincinnati critic, Mary Alexander. (Enquirer, 12/2/1928)

A similarly sized, more finished oil on canvas, today known as Fiesta Dancers Crossing the Plaza, Taos, portrays the same scene more intimately. It is thought to be the painting referred to as Dancers Crossing the Plaza exhibited in Sharp's Cincinnati show, Indian and Western Paintings, at the Traxel Art Galleries in December 1928.

Peter H. Hassrick

Artist: Joseph Henry Sharp
Date: ca. 1924; [1910]
Catalogue Number: 493
Medium: oil on canvas
Inscriptions: LR: J.H.SHARP.

Penciled on dust cover: The Sunset Dance, Taos / J.H.Sharp / 20"x24"/ Bin 11 - (2) - B.B.

Inscribed on paper attached to dust cover: Taos Pueblo Fiesta, Sept. 29th & 30th Sunset Dance After solemn ceremonies in the church they parade & dance in front of each pueblo building and other points as the sun goes down - In the 1890s (and before) there were two guards with guns at the church door, who made periodical shots to keep the devil and evil spirits away - Concession to the church and own belief.

Dimensions: 20 x 27 3/4 in.
Credit Line: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK. Gift of the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation, 1955.
Accession Number: 0137.341
Subjects: Taos, ceremony, dance, group

The artist; [?]; Dr. Philip G. Cole, Tarrytown, NY; Thomas Gilcrease, Tulsa, OK, 1947; The Thomas Gilcrease Foundation, Tulsa, OK; present owner by gift 1955

For exhibition history, see Sunset Dance - Ceremony to the Evening Sun (#239).

Sharp produced another nearly identical scene, Sundown Dance and Hunting Son at this time. Sharp's model, Hunting Son, blocks most of the mountain in the distance, but the pueblo and many of the celebrants are visible. (Record 673)

The Sunset Dance, Taos

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