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The Moran Family of Painters: Edward, Leon, Thomas, Mary & Peter Moran

May 14 - August 28, 2005

 

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts will present an exhibition of the works of the Morans, a nineteenth-century family of painters and etchers, Edward, Leon, Thomas, Mary and Peter. The exhibition will open with a public reception on Sunday, May 15, 2005 between the hours of 2:30 and 4:00 p.m., and will continue through August 28, 2005. More than fifty works of art will be shown, twenty-three of which will be on loan from the Worth B. Stottlemyer Collection of Juniata College Museum of Art and the remainder will be from the Museum's Permanent Collection, Yellowstone National Park, the Reading Public Museum, other museums, galleries and private collectors. (right: Thomas Moran (1837-1926), "Lower Manhattan from Communipaw, New Jersey", 1880, oil, Collection of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland, Museum Purchase, 1940, A303)

Thomas Moran (1837-1926), the most famous artist in the family, is best known for his paintings of the American West; his wife, Mary Nimmo, for her etchings of eastern views; and brothers Edward and Peter, as well as Edward's son, Leon, for their seascapes, portraits and genre scenes. Originally from Bolton, Lancashire, England, the Moran family, father Thomas, Sr., mother Mary Higson Moran and sons Edward, John, Thomas and Peter immigrated to America around 1844. They settled in Philadelphia where the children received an education rich in art. At the age of sixteen, Thomas became apprenticed to a wood engraving firm and in 1861, he traveled abroad to London to study the paintings of J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) and Claude Lorrain (1602-1682). In 1871, Moran took his first expedition to Yellowstone country and in 1873, he took a second, making sketches for his two great works, The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which will be on view on loan from Yellowstone National Park, and The Chasm of the Colorado.

Edward (1829-1901), the oldest, is reputed to be the impetus behind the family's interest in the art world. By the 1880s he was considered an expert on marine painting and after his death in 1901, an admirer wrote, "As a painter of the sea in its many moods and phases, Edward had no superior in America."

Leon (1864-1941), also known as John Leon, was the son of Edward and made his reputation as a figure painter, mostly in watercolor.

Mary Nimmo Moran (1842-1899), Thomas' wife, was a native of Scotland and established herself as one of the foremost nineteenth century landscape etchers in the United States. Many of her etchings were made on-site directly onto the copper plate. Her family came to the United States in 1852 and they were neighbors of the Moran family. Due to health reasons, Mary could not accompany her husband on his western trips and Thomas suggested she take up etching. In the 1880s, she was recognized as the leading American woman etcher.

Peter (1841-1914), the youngest of the Moran brothers, was three years old when the family came to America. He was apprenticed at the age of fifteen to lithographic printers, Herline and Hersel of Philadelphia. He became his brothers' best pupil, but his interest was in animal subjects rather than marines and landscapes. After a trip to England in 1863, he returned to Philadelphia and made his mark as a competent and prolific etcher.

This exhibition is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Pitzer of Hagerstown, Maryland.

 

RL readers may also enjoy these earlier articles:

The Morans: The Artistry of a 19th-century Family of Painter-Etchers (8/30/04)

"The American Spirit: Frederic Church, Winslow Homer, Thomas Moran" and "Leelanau: Michigan's Eden" (8/26/03)

The Morans: the Artistry of a Nineteenth-Century Family of Painter-Etchers (4/25/01)

Thomas Moran and the Spirit of Place (3/27/01)

The Poetry of Place: Works on Paper by Thomas Moran from the Gilcrease Museum (11/14/00)

The Huntington Receives Gift of Thomas Moran Painting (7/29/98)

First Retrospective of Landscapes by Thomas Moran

 

Samples of artwork by Thomas Moran

(above: Thomas Moran, Grand Canyon with Rainbow. 1912. Oil on canvas. de Young Art Museum. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Gill through the Patrons of Art and Music. 1981.89. License: Scuttlebutte, CC BY-SA 4.0 Scuttlebutte, CC BY-SA 4.0. via Wikimedia Commons**)

 

(above: Thomas Moran, Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, oil on canvas, Phoenix Art Museum. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

 

(above: Thomas Moran, A Snowy Mountain Range (Path of Souls, Idaho), 1896, oil on canvas, 14 x 27 inches, Denver Art Museum, The Roath Collection. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

 

Sample of artwork by Edward Moran

 

(above: Edward Moran, Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, 1865, oil on canvas, 19.62 x 15.81 inches, Fogg Museum of Art, Purchased through the generosity of Suzanne and Terrance Murray in honor of President Drew Gilpin Faust. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

 

Sample of Artwork by Mary Nimmo Moran

 

(above: Mary Nimmo Moran, Point Isabel, Florida, 1887, etching in black on laid paper, 9 5/16 ? 12 5/16 inches, National Gallery of Art. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

 

*Tag for expired US copyright of object image:

Read more articles and essays concerning this institutional source by visiting the sub-index page for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Resource Library.

 

Brief remarks about Thomas Moran

Thomas Moran, a pivotal figure in American art, is best known for his breathtaking landscape paintings of the American West. Born in England in 1837, Moran immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He would go on to become one of the foremost landscape painters of his time, significantly contributing to the nation's appreciation and preservation of its natural wonders. Moran's paintings not only captured the beauty of the American wilderness but also played a crucial role in the development of the national park system. Understanding what Moran painted and why he did it involves examining his influences, motivations, and the broader cultural context of his work.
 
Early Life and Artistic Influences
 
Thomas Moran began his artistic career as an apprentice to a wood engraver, but his true passion lay in painting. He was inspired by the works of British artist J.M.W. Turner, whose dramatic use of light and color greatly influenced Moran's style. Moran's early works primarily consisted of illustratons and smaller landscape paintings, but his career took a defining turn when he became involved with the geological surveys of the American West.
 
The Yellowstone Expedition and Beyond
 
In 1871, Moran joined the United States Geological Survey of the Yellowstone region led by Ferdinand V. Hayden. This expedition proved to be a turning point in Moran's career. Captivated by the stunning and untamed beauty of Yellowstone, Moran created a series of sketches and paintings that would later become some of his most famous works. Paintings like "The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" and "The Hot Springs of Gardiner's River" are celebrated for their vivid colors, dramatic compositions, and meticulous attention to detail.
 
Motivations and Impact
 
Moran's motivations for painting the American West were multifaceted. Firstly, he was driven by a deep appreciation for nature's beauty and a desire to capture its grandeur on canvas. His paintings are characterized by a sense of awe and reverence, reflecting his personal connection to the landscapes he depicted. Moran's use of light, color, and scale conveyed the sublime and often overwhelming majesty of the natural world, inviting viewers to experience these places as he did.
 
Secondly, Moran was motivated by a sense of national pride and a desire to contribute to the cultural and environmental preservation of the United States. His paintings of Yellowstone and other western landscapes played a pivotal role in convincing Congress to establish Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872. Moran's works were used to promote the idea of preserving America's natural wonders for future generations, highlighting the intrinsic value of these landscapes beyond their economic potential.
 
Artistic Legacy and Cultural Significance
 
Thomas Moran's legacy extends far beyond his artistic achievements. His paintings not only captured the beauty of the American West but also helped shape the nation's cultural and environmental consciousness. By portraying the grandeur and uniqueness of places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Rocky Mountains, Moran's work inspired a sense of pride and stewardship for America's natural heritage.
 
Moran's influence is also evident in the broader American art scene. His ability to blend realism with romanticism set a precedent for landscape painting, and his works remain a benchmark for artists depicting the natural world. Moreover, his involvement in the national park movement underscores the power of art to effect social and environmental change.
 
Conclusion
 
In conclusion, Thomas Moran painted the American West to capture its unparalleled beauty, to inspire a sense of national pride, and to advocate for the preservation of its natural wonders. His vivid and dramatic landscapes serve as both artistic masterpieces and historical documents, highlighting the transformative power of art in shaping public perception and policy. Moran's work continues to resonate today, reminding us of the timeless beauty of the natural world and the importance of preserving it for future generations. Through his paintings, Moran not only celebrated the splendor of the American landscape but also helped ensure its protection and appreciation for years to come.
 
The above text was generated by AI and edited in July, 2024.

 

TFAO also suggests this video:

Thomas "Yellowstone" Moran is a 12 minute National Gallery of Art video that "Recounts the story of Moran's involvement with the government-sponsored survey expedition to Yellowstone in 1871. Using archival photographs and footage of Yellowstone, the video shows the pivotal role that Moran's paintings of this area played in securing passage of the first national park bill ." This program is available in the DVD collection: American Art, 1785­1926: Seven Artist Profiles.This DVD is lent free of charge through the National Gallery of Art's Division of Education (go to NGA Loan Materials)

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