Coronado's Exploration Party in Palo Duro Canyon

Year1941

Classification painting

Medium oil on canvas

Dimensions6'6-1/2" X 30'1"

Credits New Deal Art Program
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration

One of six panels depicting the life and landscape of the Panhandle. Panel depicting the Spanish leader and his men in their first encounter with Native Americans. On the left, he and his band are riding up on horseback wearing helmets and carrying lances. They were in search of the fabulous cities of gold, as they passed through "Palo Duro" Canyon located near Amarillo. In the center sections, buffalo are seen in the valley below being hunted by Native Americans on horseback. Since horses were unknown to the Indians until after the departure of Coronado, a passage of time must be assumed here. In the right hand section Native Americans in headress pointing guns and arrows at the white settlers who are carrying pistols, with one Native American lying on the ground dead. The final struggle of the Native Americans with the encroaching cattlemen who are shown with a herd of longhorn cattle on the right. The background is composed of the dry plains and mountains of the Southwest. Woeltz won a competition entered by 64 artists from the Southwest. He was selected "for the distinction of the artist's style, for his feeling for light which might be used to advantage in painting Panhandle landscape and for his architectural quality of design".