The Wissahickon Creek near Philadelphia
c. 1863
Medium
albumen print
Dimensions
image: 26.3 × 33 cm (10 3/8 × 13 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Robert B. Menschel Fund
Accession Number
1999.6.1
Art Historical Context
Step into the serene world of *The Wissahickon Creek near Philadelphia*, evocative albumen print by John Moran, captured around 1863. Nestled in the wooded valleys of Fairmount Park just outside Philadelphia, the Wissahickon was a beloved Romantic-era retreat, celebrated for its dramatic gorges, cascading waters, and lush foliage. Amid the turmoil of the Civil War, Moran's image offers a tranquil escape, highlighting America's natural splendor at a time when the nation grappled with division. As one of the pioneering American photographers of the mid-19th century, Moran—brother to painter Tho...
About the Artist
John Moran · 1821–1903
John Moran (1821–1903) was a British-born American landscape painter and photographer who became a significant figure in the artistic life of Philadelphia during the second half of the nineteenth century. Born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, he emigrated to the United States as a young man and settled in Philadelphia, where he became closely associated with one of the most remarkable artistic fami...