Artist José Cisneros, some of whose images on tile are on permanent display at the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library in Santa Fe, died Saturday at his home in El Paso. He was 99.

He had humble roots and a fifth-grade education before he became widely known for his illustrations of aspects of Spanish colonial history.

"He probably illustrated over 1,000 books," granddaughter Margaret Connerly of Santa Fe said Monday.

His images of Spanish soldiers and Franciscan friars with their carretas hang on the walls at the El Camino Real State Monument south of Socorro.

He was born April 18, 1910, during the Mexican Revolution, in Villa Ocampo in northern Mexico. His family settled in El Paso when he was 15, writer Ana Pacheco reported in a profile of Cisneros last year for The New Mexican. At one time, he helped support his family by painting streetcars and buses for the city of El Paso.

Although colorblind, the self-taught artist created much of his work in color by relying on the names of the colors. Near the end of his life, he also suffered from macular degeneration.

Among other honors, Cisneros was presented with a National Humanities Medal at the White House in 2002 by President George W. Bush. King Juan Carlos of Spain knighted Cisneros for his contribution to the understanding of Spanish history in the New World.

The artist's wife, Vicenta Madera, preceded him in death in 1994.

Funeral services are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Church in El Paso. Burial will be at Mount Carmel Cemetery in El Paso.