# American Plains with Mountain Range in the Distance

**Thomas Moran** (American, born England, 1837–1926)  
before 1872  
Graphite, brush and watercolor on paper  
19.1 x 12.3 cm (7 1/2 x 4 13/16 in.)

Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1917-17-15-a. [The museum's record](https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/view/objects/asitem/id/21729).

## About this work

Plains with mountain range in the distance.

_Text from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

Thomas Moran painted this (before 1872), aged 35. It is now at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.

### What you’re looking at

AMERICAN PLAINS WITH MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE DISTANCE

_Description from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.

### [Thomas Moran](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/thomas-moran)

American, born England, 1837–1926

Moran came to Philadelphia from England as a child, trained as a wood engraver and largely taught himself to paint, deeply influenced by Turner’s work, which he studied in London. In 1871 he joined Ferdinand Hayden’s survey of Yellowstone, and his sketches and paintings from it helped persuade Congress to create the first national park in 1872. He returned to the American West many times, painting the Grand Canyon, the Tetons and Yosemite on a grand scale.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 35
- Real size: about 7½ × 5 in (19 × 12 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 19th century
- Movement: [Hudson River School](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/hudson-river-school)
- Subjects: Landscapes
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1720.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1720/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/american-plains-with-mountain-range-in-the-distance-si-chndm-1917-17-15-a).