The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Thomas Moran, 1872
Purchased by Congress in 1872; moved to the Dept of the Interior 1950
Formerly placed in Senate Lobby
Moran's vision of the west accords with that of his contemporaries. Although he
took pains to portray the geology accurately, he admits that he had idealized the view of
the canyon because his mission is to create art, not a topographical map. While he does render the rocks in geolgical accuracy, his overall
purpose is to convey a personal impression of the view. The scale of the scene is in
exaggerated proportions, and the details of the actual view of the canyon have been
skewed to suit Moran's aesthetic vision.
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