Collection of Paintings by Influential Nineteenth-Century American Artists Gifted to the National Museum of Wildlife Art

The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) announces the addition of a significant collection of works to the Museum’s permanent collection. Generously donated by a private collector, the gift includes outstanding paintings by a handful of influential nineteenth-century American artists like Thomas Moran, George Catlin, Seth Eastman, Alfred Jacob Miller, and Frederic Remington.

The first of these works to be displayed at the Museum is Mount Moran, Teton Range, Idaho by Thomas Moran. Painted in 1903, this 40 x 30 inch oil on canvas depicts Mount Moran as seen from Idaho. This is the second Thomas Moran painting to join NMWA’s permanent collection; the first, also of Mount Moran, was donated in 2022. This acquisition is a meaningful addition to the Museum’s collection and is noteworthy for the piece’s quality and impressive size. The Museum’s official vision statement is to inspire connections with wildlife and nature. “Moran’s work played an integral role in creating America’s first national park, and indelibly aligns with the vision of the Museum–connecting visitors with nature. While we celebrate wildlife and nature from around the globe, collecting pieces with regional significance is always a priority,” says Executive Director Steve Seamons. 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. Mount Moran, Teton Range, Idaho is on view now at NMWA in the Greene Pathways Gallery.

Other works included in this bequest are Seth Eastman’s Indian Mode of Traveling, George Catlin’s Sioux War Council, and Alfred Jacob Miller’s The Lost Greenhorn. These works represent iconic subjects and compositions in these artist’s oeuvres, many of which they revisited throughout their careers. For example, Indian Mode of Traveling by Seth Eastman is a version of one of nine scenes of traditional Northern Plains life that the House Committee on Indian Affairs commissioned from Eastman in 1869, a version of which is still in the Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives. This is the first oil painting by Eastman in the Museum’s permanent collection, complimenting five engravings by the artist, which show the various stages of a buffalo hunt. The Lost Greenhorn by Alfred Jacob Miller is also the first oil by the artist to be added to NMWA’s collection, joining several works on paper already accessioned. “Working in the 1800s, explorer artists like George Catlin sought to document the native animal inhabitants of what was, to them, a largely unexplored continent. They aimed to record ways of life and species of animals that might be lost forever given the advancing tide of eastern settlement. Artists like Alfred Jacob Miller brought romantic ideals to their perception of the West, portraying the frontier as a site of grand opportunity and drama,” says Seamons. This gift adds increased opportunities for interpretation in the galleries and will give the public access to these historically significant pieces. These works are not yet on view; however, the public is encouraged to visit the Museum and enjoy the recently installed Thomas Moran.