Katie Jeffress Bachor English 3AP-5 3 October 2011 From Sea to Shining Sea Mist in Kanab Canyon, Utah,

an oil on canvas piece measuring 44 3/8 inches by 38 3/8 inches that currently resides in the Smithsonian Gallery of American Artwork, was painted by Thomas Moran in 1892. Raised in Pennsylvania during the 1840s, Moran was a child of the Tonalism Movement, an era characterized by the use of colored atmospheres or mist in the backdrop of landscape paintings. Beginning in the 1890s, Americans began to adopt a new belief that it was their God-given right to expand westward into the uncharted territories that stretched all the way to California. This new conviction, named Manifest Destiny, greatly influenced many great painters of the time, including Thomas Moran. After journeying to the West and personally witnessing the majestic beauty of the frontier, Moran was inspired to recreate the images he had seen in order to share their striking splendor with the public. By utilizing the artistic elements of value and symbolism, Moran portrays the American West as a sanctified kingdom bursting with natural wonder and mystery. By effectively contrasting neutral hues, Moran employs the element of value to illustrate the aesthetic holiness of the unexplored West. The white haze encompassing the entire background of the painting, an artistic device brought

Jeffress 2 about by the Tonalism movement, is a direct effort to make the depicted region appear divine. Tall rock features in the background are shrouded by the holy mist, bringing forth an image that looks strikingly similar to many interpretations of heaven. The white mist is heavily contrasted with dark hues in the foreground that are meant to represent the unfamiliar and sometimes feared attributes of the Western territories. For many pioneers, the journey westward into the unknown was usually accompanied by hardship, obstacles, and even death. Morans use of value is a distinct representation of the principles of Manifest Destiny and the adversities faced to carry out its ideals. To further emphasize his conviction of Manifest Destiny, Thomas Moran uses the image of an eagle and of a man to foster symbolism in his painting. The eagle, a renowned symbol of American freedom and pride, can be found soaring through the skies in the upper right hand corner of the painting. Encompassed by white mist and surrounded by looming rock structures, the eagle appears to be flying westward into the canyon. This symbol directly represents the idea that it is Americas God-given right to expand from sea to shining sea. In addition to the eagle, a figure of a man can be found the in lower, darker region of the painting. The mans placement exemplifies the sentiment that Americans must first overcome the uncertainty of new regions in order to reach lands of piety and reap the benefits of nature. Compared to the other imposing and majestic structures of the painting, the man seems to be puny and insignificant, symbolizing the

Jeffress 3 vastness of the territories and their potential to become thriving centers of the American people.

Farther By John James Piatt FAR-OFF a young State rises, full of might: I paint its brave escutcheon. Near at hand See the log-cabin in the rough clearing stand; A woman by its door, with steadfast sight, Trustful, looks Westward, where, uplifted bright,

Some citys Apparition, weird and grand, In dazzling quiet fronts the lonely land, With vast and marvelous structures wrought of light, Motionless on the burning cloud afar: The haunting vision of a time to be,

After the heroic age is ended here, Built on the boundless, still horizons bar By the low sun, his gorgeous prophecy Lighting the doorway of the pioneer!

Jeffress 4 The works of both John Piatt and Thomas Moran were created to express the idea that it is Americas God-given right to expand westward. Thomas Morans paintings transformed the West from an esoteric and feared region into a land of beauty and wonder in the minds of many Americans. Morans artwork, now proudly displayed by congress as a part of American history, served as a knowledgeable guide that led thousands of pioneers westward in a noble attempt to progress their lives, their freedom, and their country.

Jeffress 5 Works Cited Anderson, Nancy K. "Thomas Moran." National Gallery of Art. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.nga.gov/feature/moran/index.shtm>. LaFreniere, Peter. "Tonalism." Blue Hill Bay Gallery. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. <http://bluehillbaygallery.com/p/Tonalism.html>. "Mist in Kanab Canyon, Utah." Smithsonian American Art Museum. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. <http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=17848>. Piatt, John J. "Farther" Bartleby.com. July 2011. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. <http://www.bartleby.com/248/603.html>.