LARGE PAINTED VIGNETTE ON PANEL TITLED “JOAQUIN MURRIETA” (THE ORIGINAL ZORRO).

LARGE PAINTED VIGNETTE ON PANEL TITLED “JOAQUIN MURRIETA” (THE ORIGINAL ZORRO). This large late 19th or early 20th century painting on panel depicts a southwestern scene with a dashing figure on horseback brandishing a dagger. He wears a cape and and blue tight britches and is astride a handsome brown stallion. Title below the panel is “Joaquin Murrieta Famous Robin Hood, Eldorado, Co.”. Joaquin Murrieta was born in 1829 and lived to the July 25, 1853, he was also called “The Mexican or Chilean, Robin Hood” or the “Robin Hood of Eldorado”. It is also believed that he and his life were the basis for the story of “Zorro”. He was a semi-legendary figure during the gold rush of the 1850’s, depending upon which view point you take, he was either an infamous bandit or a Mexican patriot. In general purportedly, Anglos drove him from a rich mining claim and shortly thereafter his wife was raped, his half brother lynched and Murrieta himself horsewhipped, and some time after that his escapades began. Murrieta and his men committed enough crimes and became enough of a problem that by 1853 the CA state legislature considered Murrieta enough of a criminal to list him as one of the five “Joaquins” on a bill passed May 1853, the Legislature authorized hiring for three months a company of 20 CA rangers who were veterans of the Mexican-American war to hunt down a number of criminals including Murrieta. The rangers confronted and killed a number of individuals they claimed to be these same criminals, one being 3-fingered Jack, another included Murrieta. They severed the hand of 3-fingered Jack and the head of Murrieta to bring back and receive their $1,000 reward. The head and hand were preserved in a jar of alcohol and shown to many priests who know Murrieta and confirmed it was he. The head was also brandished about and used to display at special showing for a fee and was reportedly lost in the San Francisco earthquake. In an article, “Love and the Bandit’s Head”, in True West magazine, William B Secrest states that the head was on display at SB Jordan’s San Francisco Museum and showcased there until the earthquake of 1906. This placard may have been part of the museum display. SIZE: 32-1/2″ x 65-1/2″ sight. PROVENANCE: J. Parker Lyon Pony Express Museum. CONDITION: Shows plenty of age. Staining along the top and at sides, scattered nail holes along the edge and a small break down near the title, near the word Robin, it also shows some scattered foxing and plenty of age. A neat folk art depiction of an infamous early southwestern historical figure. 4-45096 (8,500-12,500)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2209A	$11,500.00	LARGE PAINTED VIGNETTE ON PANEL TITLED “JOAQUIN MURRIETA” (THE ORIGINAL ZORRO). This large late 19th or early 20th century painting on panel depicts a southwestern scene with a dashing figure on horseback brandishing a dagger. He wears a cape and and blue tight britches and is astride a handsome brown stallion. Title below the panel is “Joaquin Murrieta Famous Robin Hood, Eldorado, Co.”. Joaquin Murrieta was born in 1829 and lived to the July 25, 1853, he was also called “The Mexican or Chilean, Robin Hood” or the “Robin Hood of Eldorado”. It is also believed that he and his life were the basis for the story of “Zorro”. He was a semi-legendary figure during the gold rush of the 1850’s, depending upon which view point you take, he was either an infamous bandit or a Mexican patriot. In general purportedly, Anglos drove him from a rich mining claim and shortly thereafter his wife was raped, his half brother lynched and Murrieta himself horsewhipped, and some time after that his escapades began. Murrieta and his men committed enough crimes and became enough of a problem that by 1853 the CA state legislature considered Murrieta enough of a criminal to list him as one of the five “Joaquins” on a bill passed May 1853, the Legislature authorized hiring for three months a company of 20 CA rangers who were veterans of the Mexican-American war to hunt down a number of criminals including Murrieta. The rangers confronted and killed a number of individuals they claimed to be these same criminals, one being 3-fingered Jack, another included Murrieta. They severed the hand of 3-fingered Jack and the head of Murrieta to bring back and receive their $1,000 reward. The head and hand were preserved in a jar of alcohol and shown to many priests who know Murrieta and confirmed it was he. The head was also brandished about and used to display at special showing for a fee and was reportedly lost in the San Francisco earthquake. In an article, “Love and the Bandit’s Head”, in True West magazine, William B Secrest states that the head was on display at SB Jordan’s San Francisco Museum and showcased there until the earthquake of 1906. This placard may have been part of the museum display. SIZE: 32-1/2″ x 65-1/2″ sight. PROVENANCE: J. Parker Lyon Pony Express Museum. CONDITION: Shows plenty of age. Staining along the top and at sides, scattered nail holes along the edge and a small break down near the title, near the word Robin, it also shows some scattered foxing and plenty of age. A neat folk art depiction of an infamous early southwestern historical figure. 4-45096 (8,500-12,500) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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