J R Willis Large Format, Hand Tinted Photograph of a Petrified Forest Arizona Landscape Scene c1920-30s

Item Details

Gallup NM, J R Willis, 1920s

Very Good

Large format hand tinted color photograph of petrified logs in the Petrified Forest of Northern Arizona. Mounted and matted with Willis’s Gallup NM stamped mark on the corner of the matting. This is a fancy mount as there is also a clear plastic covering over the image and under the matting. *Joseph R Willis (1876-1960) is best known for his Indian photographs, paintings and Southwestern landscapes. In 1917 on his way to New York to discuss cartoon syndication, he stopped in Arizona to sketch Hopi Indians. He decided to stay in the Southwest and moved to Gallup NM. He set himself up as a photographer and could use those images as sources for his paintings. Willis was known as the Aspen King, because of his wonderful paintings of Aspen trees. In 1931 he moved to Albuquerque. Many of his images were used to make view-master reels and postcards. Overall 10” x 14” with visible image of 5 ½” x 9 ½”. Image is clean and bright. There is some light edge wear on the matting. See images.