Thomas Moran's Clouds in the Canyon

Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Clouds in the Canyon, 1915, oil on canvas, 20 1/4 x 25 1/8 inches. Rockwell Foundation purchase. 78.43

Born in England, Moran came to the United States as a young child. He believed fervently that painting American landscape was his destiny, declaring, "I decided very early that I would be an American painter. I'll paint as an American, on an American basis, and American only." His paintings appeared to be accurate portrayals of the landscape, but he sought a "higher truth" through idealization of his subject.  The idea of anything or anyone being "American" is still relatively new, especially as applied to being an artist. But Moran's idea is almost a prophecy as it is he and other early explorer artists painting unknown frontiers who created the first art of the European tradition that is divorced from typical European subject matter-in other words the first "American" art.

"The future of American art lies in being true to our own country...My chief desire is to call the attention of American landscape painters to ...this enchanting southwestern country; a country flooded with color and picturesqueness, offering everything to inspire the artist."                    

-Thomas Moran as quoted in The Grand Canyon of Arizona, 1909