entitled the “Eve of Saint John”, painted by Peter Hurd. Also known as “Noche de San

Juan” due to the strong hispanic influence in the artists’ life. Born in Roswell, New

Mexico, Hurd originally was destined to be in the military for one Hurd had fought in

every American war since the French and Indian war in the dawn of our country. Peter

was formally known as Hugh Hurd then changed his name in his teens because his

parents had been calling him Pete since he was a child. Peter dropped out of the West

Point Military Academy due to the rigorous physical and mental stress and devoted his

life to the arts. He moved back to Roswell and spent most of his life there.

The “Eve of Saint John” was painted in 1960 on his ranch in New Mexico. The

little girl in the depiction is the daughter of Hurd’s ranch foreman and is alive today, still

living in Roswell. The child, Doretea Herrera, at the time was twelve years of age and is

on her way to a church function holding a candle in her hands. The artist chose to add a

lot of detail to even the background of the painting, but I will

kicking up a dusty brown cloud. What looks to the perspective about fifty yards beyond

The reason I chose this painting is because it depicts a lifestyle I lived when I was

me of pictures of my mom at that age. The weather where I lived was very warm at night

shadows. The shirt is buttoned all the way up with the exception of maybe the last two on

Some topics in this essay:
Mexican Hispanic, Doretea Herrera, Saint John”, Military Academy, Hugh Hurd, Mexico Hurd, San Juan”, French Indian, Peter Hurd, Gallery Review, “eve saint, john” painted, background painting, chose piece, reason chose, “eve saint john”, saint john” painted, saint john”,