Shonto Begay – “Protector of the Hero Twins” Painting

I hope to describe accurately what Navajo painter, Shonto Begay, told me about this painting. He said the young Hero Twins within Navajo religion are Messianic figures. One is the sun and other is water. In this painting, the Wolf Killer Protector – with his drawn bow – is keeping the young Hero Twins safe. The Wolf-like monster in the painting is coming at the Twins with temptations and misfortune, all the chaos and harm the world can bring. This painting captures the great struggle between good fortune and destruction in the Navajo spirit world. There are Yei figures subtly painted into the background on the upper left. I purchased this painting directly from Shonto at the Santa Fe Free Market on August 17, 2024. Shonto is one the most accomplished of all Native painters. One of 16 children, his mother is a traditional Navajo rug weaver from the Bitter Water Clan, and his father was a medicine man born to the Salt Clan. Dimensions are 12″ by 9″.