Don Francisco Vasquez de Coronado on the Llano Estacado, 1541. 48 x 60.

In a letter 17 Jan 2005 to Peter Briggs, Curator of Art, Texas Tech
University:
This painting was completed on 5 January 1973 after I
had read Professor Bolton's book, Pageant in the Wilderness, UNM
Press, and had done research on the heraldry and armor of the time.
The painting represents Don Francisco on horseback; the standing
figure in the center foreground is El Turco, and to the left are
various friars and soldiers. It was my intention to show the fact
that the Spanish army came into our present area in full medieval
armor on great northern horses prepared to carry the weight. Many
noted illustrators have previously painted Coronado with the puff
sleeves and tight stockings typical of the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
who was born eighteen years after the date Don Francisco made his
exploration.

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