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Morans:
The Painting Family
Edward, Thomas, Mary, Peter and Leon
Moran Family of Artists
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
Hagerstown, Maryland
May 14 - August 28, 2005
Title: Lower Manhattan from Communipaw, NJ 1880
Artist: Thomas Moran (American 1837-1926)
Medium: Oil
Museum Purchase, 1940 A 303
Permanent Collection and Image Courtesy: The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland
Thomas Moran
The noted landscape artist emigrated to Philadelphia from his native England with his parents and siblings when he was a young boy. All of the
children of Thomas Senior and Mary Higson Moran were taught art as part of their education. Edward (1829-1901) was the oldest,
then John (1831-1903),
Thomas (1837-1926) and the youngest Peter, (1841-1914).
Thomas was apprenticed as an engraver, and studied in England, learning from
visiting J. M. W. Turner's paintings. He would continue
his travels, venturing to Yellowstone, where he sketched his best known works
prior to painting them, including The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which is
included in this exhibit.
Edward Moran
The oldest of the artistic brothers found his niche in marine imagery and is credited with the family's love of art and painting.
He was also Thomas' first art instructor.
During 1899 Edward created a series of 11 paintings demonstrating the major achievements in his new country's maritime history, from
the arrival of the Vikings to Admiral Dewey's fleet returning that very year from the Philippines.
His son Leon or John Leon (1864-1941) was a noted
watercolorist, usually of figures.
Peter Moran
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Title: The Fakes, circa 1870
Artist: Peter Moran (American 1841-1914)
Medium: Oil on Board
Permanent Collection: The Worth B. Stottlemyer Collection, Juniata College Museum of Art
Image Courtesy: The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland
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Animals were the beloved subject of the youngest brother, Peter, who, like Thomas, learned from his older siblings. Peter was an accomplished
etcher.
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Mary Nimmo Moran
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Scottish Native Mary Nimmo (1842-1899) married Thomas Moran. Her health was not the best and given her inability to join
her husband on his trips to Yellowstone and elsewhere, at his suggestion, she became a copper-plate etcher. Eventually
she was recognized as the foremost American etcher of her time.
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Title: Point Isabel, Florida, 1887
Artist: Mary Nimmo Moran (American 1842-1899)
Medium: Etching
Permanent Collection: The Worth B. Stottlemyer Collection, Juniata College Museum of Art
Image Courtesy: The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland
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The exhibit includes works from the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts permanent collection along with twenty-three items loaned
from the Worth B. Stottlemyer Collection of Juniatta College Museum of Art.
Each Moran had his or her unique brand of creativity and subject matter, though they helped one another achieve their individual artistic aims, demonstrated
with The Moran Family of Artists.
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