Santuario De Chimayo, Santa Fe, Nm, by Sandra Vaillancourt, 53" X 53" Framed Original Oil on Canvas Painting, 2014

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This very large 53" X 53" framed, one-of-a-kind oil painting by Santa Fe artist Sandra Vaillancourt (Vaillancourt Gallery, Santa Fe, … Read more This very large 53" X 53" framed, one-of-a-kind oil painting by Santa Fe artist Sandra Vaillancourt (Vaillancourt Gallery, Santa Fe, NM) may be the most beautiful interpretation ever of the spiritual mecca known as Santuario de Chimayo.

Buried deep in the hills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the small rural town of Chimayo, Santuario de Chimayo was constructed by Spanish missionaries in 1816, over 200 years ago. A Roman Catholic Church it remains standing to this day and still provides services to its flock.

This original work of art was purchased by me directly from the artist several years ago during an art show at the infamous La Fonda Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe. It was purchased unframed and then rolled. It's brilliance is unmistakable Vaillancourt!

For me, what stands out most about this painting is the heart of the painter that shines throughout every detail of this creation. It is at once playful, delightful, magical, and yet filled with reverence. Utilizing a palette of colors that reflects New Mexico's spectacular earth and sky, the painting inspires a landscape of poetic emotion with its royal blue heavens dabbled with swirly sparkly diamonds of stars and delicate deep peachy-pink roses that trail over the chapel's arched entrance and weathered wooden cross. Sprouts of desert grasses and the entrance's sun-baked wooden doors shown below and at mid-line, are depicted in turquoise, New Mexico's trademark color, lending the painting a sublime balance and harmony top to bottom. But, truly, this painting is hyper centered on the chapel, depicted in shades of New Mexico's infamous sunsets and showcased on either side with a total of three brilliant green cottonwoods trees that solidly anchor the core and draw the eye to the center of this holy icon.

The solid wood frame also is an investment and is in excellent condition. It has a 2.5" wide border all around and was specifically hand selected to mimic dark brown tooled leather ~ much like a gorgeous Western leather belt or saddle. The canvas was professionally stretched before framing. The frame truly makes the perfect complement to this storied image of New Mexican lore.

Having personally travelled many times to the hallowed grounds of Santuario de Chimayo, I believe this piece represents much of what makes New Mexico so uniquely special and beautiful ~ its culture, its people, and its natural beauty, and it will surely grace any space that wishes to honor the Spanish traditions of the West through original New Mexican art. Just be certain to have a large enough space to showcase this beauty!!! Measure. Measure. Measure. See less