In the late 19th century, creators of art abounded in the United States, but few names of American artists from that time are recognized. One surname that all American art lovers should know is Moran.
This family immigrated to the United States in the 1840s from England. The parents were handloom weavers, but the mechanization of weaving during the Industrial Revolution made it difficult for them to feed their large family.
After they settled on the outskirts of Philadelphia, the oldest son Edward became a painter. As he developed his reputation as a maritime painter, he trained and encouraged his three younger brothers to pursue careers as professional artists.
Edward Moran in his studio, circa 1870. Smithsonian. Public Domain
Edward Moran paved the way into art not just for his siblings but for their spouses. This artistic creativity continued into the next generation, with the work of Edward’s son Edward Percy Moran (1862–1935).
Second Generation Artist
Edward Percy Moran was born on July 29, 1862, in Philadelphia. He was the older son of Edward Moran and his wife, Elizabeth McManes Moran. Called Percy Moran to distinguish him from his father, he grew up in Philadelphia, the city where most of the Moran family settled and built their art careers.
He received his general education at the Philadelphia public schools, but his real education was in his father’s art studio in New York City.
Edward Moran Sr. was the foremost maritime painter of his day, specializing in oil painting, so young Percy followed in his father’s footsteps. In addition to learning privately from his father, Percy received a formal education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and National Academy of Design in New York City. His father was his instructor at both schools.
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In 1874, Percy traveled to Paris with his father. There, he received military training at a prominent university. After he graduated in 1879, he studied art in Paris for a year. He also studied art in London.
When Percy returned to the United States, he eventually set up his studio in New York City in 1883. He would later have a second studio in East Hampton on Long Island, where he was part of a thriving artist community which was nurtured by his equally talented uncle and aunt, Thomas and Mary Nimmo Moran.
Percy focused on painting, specializing in both watercolor and oil. He was a member of the American Watercolor Society. Beginning in 1885, he first gained attention for his watercolor sketches and recognized in competitions. In 1886, he won the First Hallgarten Prize from the National Academy of Design and the first gold medal from the American Art Association in New York City in 1888.
The National Academy of Design and the Brooklyn Art Association frequently displayed his works of art. His paintings were also reproduced as prints and etchings and in books and magazines.
Colonial Painter
Most of the Moran family specialized in landscapes, whether in painting or other artistic disciplines. Although Percy produced some pastoral landscapes, he specialized in scenes of human life, particularly in an American Colonial setting.
Moran was noted as a painter of pretty women. Many of his most striking paintings are portraits of ladies in historic dress. “A Fair Puritan” shows a lovely young lady in the traditional garb of a New England settler, holding a bundle of holly in her apron as she stands against a snowy background.
(Left) “A Fair Puritan,” by Edward Percy Moran. (Right) “Young Girl and Dog,” 1890, by Edward Percy Moran. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Public Domain
Another painting, “Young Girl and Dog,” shows a little girl in a beautiful red 18th-century dress wearing a bonnet and carrying a basket. She eyes the viewer cautiously as she stands in a green field with her trusty pet. These portraits show a great talent for accurately portraying human faces and figures as well as the natural and homespun environments they inhabit.
Percy Moran didn’t just paint anonymous models in historic clothing. He also produced paintings of famous moments in American history and many scenes from the Revolutionary War. He often featured Gen. George Washington as a prominent figure in the action.
“The Birth of Old Glory,” 1917, by Edward Percy Moran. Public Domain
In fact, both George and Martha Washington were depicted in a great many of his paintings. He painted one of the most famous depictions of Betsy Ross with the first U.S. flag, “The Birth of Old Glory,” in 1917. He also brought to life the purchase of Manhattan and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
With his artistic skill, Percy reminded Americans of the late 19th and early 20th centuries of their rich historical heritage. He showed them America’s beauty through pastoral scenes and historical moments.
With his brushes and palette, this Moran showed his patriotism and love of American history as well as his artistic ability.