In January, the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, acquired an important oil painting by landscape master Thomas Moran. It is the museum’s first work by the famous landscape painter.
The oil painting, Eternal Snows of Mount Moran, Teton Range, was conceived not far from museum’s iconic location on a hillside in the shadow of the Teton Range. The work came from prominent collectors and museum patrons Lynn and Foster Friess, who have been involved in museums and the art market for many years. Foster died in May 2021.
Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Eternal Snows of Mount Moran, Teton Range, ca. 1912, oil on canvas. 25 x 30”. Gift of Lynn and Foster Friess.
“Lynn and Foster have significantly supported the museum almost from its founding in 1987. Lynn provided her time and talents for several years serving as a trustee and as a chair of the board. We are grateful to Lynn and Foster for their continued support of the museum,” says Steve Seamons, the museum’s director.
In a statement released by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the museum ties its goals to those of Moran and other artists who set out to capture the beauty of the West. “The mission of NMWA is to impart knowledge and inspire appreciation of humanity’s relationship with wildlife and nature through art and education. Moran’s work played an integral role in the creation of America’s first national park, and indelibly aligns with the mission of the museum. While the museum celebrates wildlife and nature from around the globe, collecting pieces with regional significance is always a priority,” the museum notes. “Moran’s depictions of the Tetons are few and far between, one of the most notable resides in the White House, and another at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
Madison Webb, director of marketing at the museum, also notes that “for the first time visitors will be able to view Moran’s depiction of his namesake peak just a few minutes’ drive from the mountain itself. It is an honor for the museum to bring this piece home, and to share it with the public.”
For more information about the museum, visit www.wildlifeart.org. —
Calling all Western Art museums! Have a recently acquired painting or sculpture? Email the details to mclawson@westernartcollector.com.
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