Thomas Moran's "The Grand Canyon of the Colorado" to be offered in Christie's May Sale of American Art
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Saturday, May 10, 2025


Thomas Moran's "The Grand Canyon of the Colorado" to be offered in Christie's May Sale of American Art
Thomas Moran (1837-1926), The Grand Canyon of the Colorado, oil on canvas, 29½ x 60 in., Estimate: $8,000,000-12,000,000. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2014.



NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s sale of American Art on May 22 will feature Thomas Moran’s (1837-1926) magnificent large-scale painting The Grand Canyon of the Colorado. Painted in 1904, the work is one of Moran’s most ambitious oils of the subject from the period. This canvas presents an awe-inspiring panorama and manifests Moran’s romantic and inspirational vision of the American West. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado, which has been exhibited at both the Royal Academy in London and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., has not been offered for sale in over two decades. At $8-12 million, this is the highest pre-sale estimate assigned to a work by Thomas Moran at auction, reflecting the superb quality and rarity of this masterwork.

Liz Sterling, Christie’s Head of American Art, said, “Christie’s is thrilled to offer The Grand Canyon of the Colorado by Thomas Moran as a highlight of our spring sale. A true visual architect of the American West, Moran has the unique ability to convey his own veneration and wonder at the breathtaking landscapes through his dramatic depictions of the Western panorama, undoubtedly his favorite subject. In addition to being vital to the creation of the national park system, works such as The Grand Canyon of the Colorado transformed the allure of the West in the American psyche into an integral part of the American identity.”

Moran first visited the Grand Canyon in 1873 as part of John Wesley Powell’s expedition. The artist eagerly accepted Powell’s invitation to join the excursion, as he was planning a pendant for his painting Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which Congress had purchased for the Capitol the previous year. Moran was immediately captivated by the unique and dramatic light, color and topography of the Grand Canyon and later wrote, “Of all places on earth the great canyon of Arizona is the most inspiring in its pictorial possibilities.”

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado is a masterwork of Moran's mature style and represents the artist at the height of his abilities. Although he visited the Grand Canyon many times and created multiple of images of the geologic wonder over the course of five decades, few are as richly complex or as monumental in scale as this painting, which captures the sublime beauty of the area in its expanse of rugged peaks and atmospheric valleys. Throughout, he employs his characteristic keen attention to light, color, and detail and the high vantage point underscores the vastness of the Canyon. Moran studied at a time when the strict realist theories of John Ruskin were lauded and, though adhering to the auspices of precise geologic transcription, it is evident that he was far more interested in capturing and conveying the emotional effect the landscape inspired.

THOMAS MORAN AT AUCTION
The current world auction record for a work by Thomas Moran is Green river of Wyoming, which sold at Christie’s in 2008 for $17.7 million, against a pre-sale estimate of $3.5-5 million. In addition to setting a record for the artist, it also set the record price for any 19th century work of American Art at auction.










Today's News

April 29, 2014

Birth of a Museum: Louvre Abu Dhabi unveils the best of its new collection in Paris

Bonhams to offer Henry Moore sculpture formerly in collection of Lauren Bacall

Thomas Moran's "The Grand Canyon of the Colorado" to be offered in Christie's May Sale of American Art

Treasures of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice on view at the Belvedere in Vienna

"Blow-Up: Antonioni's film classic and photography" opens at the Albertina in Vienna

Julien's Auctions announces Summer Street Art Auction featuring more Banksy murals

The Golden Room of the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague restored in collaboration with Shell

Pablo Picasso's Guernica used as backdrop to dance performance by Josue Ullate

Shooting the moon in the eye: Group exhibition opens at Carl Solway Gallery in Cincinnati

MOBIA to bring monumental sculptures from Duomo in Florence to U.S. for the first time

Gap announces an innovative outdoor concept in partnership with Frieze New York and London

Apollo 15 Lunar Surface artifacts featured in upcoming Aviation and Space auction

New Element: The gift of Umar Dzhabrailov to the Moscow Museum of Modern Art

Works by Zachary Cahill on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

Buoyant sales and international collectors at a busy 29th London Original Print Fair

The Culture Diary launches today: The essential, free tool for organisers of UK culutral events

Penny Bank Auction showcases the Andy and Susan Moore reference book still bank collection

Strong results as Bonhams Stafford Sale of vintage and collectors' motorcycles makes over £ 2 million

Chen Wei's first solo exhibition in the UK opens at Ben Brown Fine Arts

Rare 17th century Chinese wall hanging headlines at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions

LeRoy Neiman original artwork, historic Sandy Koufax baseballs headline Heritage Sports Auction

Exhibition of works by Martin Disler opens at MACT/CACT Contemporary Art in Canton Ticino




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
(52 8110667640)

Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful