Study of Ruxton, Colorado
June 7, 1901
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Thomas Moran
Accession Number
1917-17-82
About this artwork
Vertical view of a boulder-filled gorge with a stream in the foreground. Scenic view of mountainside with pine trees.
Art Historical Context
Thomas Moran (1837–6), the celebrated British-born American painter, crafted *Study of Ruxton, Colorado on June 7, 1901, during one of his many journeys through the American West. A gifted landscape artist associated with the Hudson River School Moran was renowned for his vivid depictions of America's majestic wilderness, often sketched en plein air to capture fleeting light and atmosphere. This work, donated by the artist himself to what is now the Smithsonian American Museum, exemplifies his enduring fascination with the Rocky Mountains. The vertical composition draws viewers into a dramati...