Julian Ramos Alfaro & Family (Peruvian)...

Updated August 22, 2026

This auction ended on August 30, 2026. See upcoming auctions from Gallery Arts & Auctions Co..

Lot number	320
Estimate	650.00 - 900.00 USD
Auction	International Fine Art & Original Peruvian Ceramics
Date	August 30, 2026 at 1:30 PM MDT
Auction house	Gallery Arts & Auctions Co.
Location	New Mexico, New Mexico

Musicians and Shepherds Master Pair of Tablas de Sarhua Narrative Paintings. This exceptional and completely original pair of Tablas de Sarhua, titled Musicians and Shepherds, is a hand-painted narrative work by renowned Peruvian master artisan Julian Ramos Alfaro and Family. Created within the celebrated artistic tradition of Sarhua, Ayacucho, the two wooden panels portray complementary scenes of music, pastoral life, community activity, and the everyday traditions of the Andean world. The first panel is crowned by Inti, the sun, radiating above a lively group of musicians and dancers dressed in colorful traditional garments. The scenes depict Andean music performed with instruments including the harp, violin, drum, and wind instruments, while the expressive figures and rhythmic arrangement convey the energy of communal celebration and traditional performance. The companion panel introduces Inti and Killa, the sun and moon, above pastoral scenes associated with shepherding and animal care. Sheep, goats, and other livestock appear alongside men and women engaged in their daily responsibilities, accompanied by musicians whose presence connects rural labor with the social and cultural life of the community. Together, the two panels form a beautifully balanced visual narrative: one emphasizing music, dance, and celebration, the other highlighting pastoral life, animals, and agricultural community traditions. Decorative geometric bands, floral borders, traditional clothing, and carefully rendered inscriptions enrich both compositions and give the pair the unmistakable visual language of the Tablas de Sarhua. One of the defining qualities of this artistic tradition is its ability to transform everyday activities into collective memory. Music, work, family occupations, celebrations, and local customs are recorded through hand-painted figures and narrative scenes, allowing each tabla to function simultaneously as a work of art and as a visual chronicle of Andean cultural identity. The traditional painting known as Tablas de Sarhua was officially declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation of Peru in 2018, recognizing its importance in preserving the historical memory, customs, and cultural identity of the community of Sarhua. Works by the artist have previously been presented through auctions organized by the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI). ARTIST Julian Ramos Alfaro is one of the recognized contemporary masters of the Tablas de Sarhua tradition. Originally from Sarhua, Ayacucho, he began learning this art at approximately eleven years of age and has devoted decades to preserving, developing, and disseminating it together with his family. In recognition of his artistic trajectory and contribution to traditional Peruvian art, Ramos received the prestigious Premio Nacional Medalla Joaquin Lopez Antay 2024. Today, the family workshop "Julian Ramos y Familia"</

Julian Ramos Alfaro & Family (Peruvian)...

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