Peter Moran. A Country Road with Cattle. 1885. Mezzotinted engraving. $500.00

"A Country Road with Cattle"

Peter Moran (1841- 1914) was born in Lancashire England. His family emigrated to the United States in 1644 and settled in Philadelphia a year later. At sixteen Peter was apprenticed to a lithographer for a short time before he went to study art with two of his brothers. They had both become established artists and later became famous for their talent; Thomas Moran for his canvases capturing the grandeur of the American west and Edward Moran as a marine painter. Thomas introduced Peter to the American southwest and Peter traveled to Taos three times between 1880 and 1881 however, he maintained a studio in Philadelphia throughout his career. Peter founded the Philadelphia Society of Etchers and served as its president for the 23 years that the organization was active. He was also a founder of the Philadelphia Art Club and a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club. 

This same scene of a man on horseback leisurely driving cows home is recorded an illustrated in David Wright's book as an etching. The use of mezzotint on silk enabled the artist to create great tonal variations and a beautifully rendered late afternoon cloudy sky. 

Ref: David Wright, Domestic and Wild: Peter Moran's Images of America #80. 

Messotint on silk mounted on paper.  
8 1/2 x 13 1/4 inches, plate.
16 x 24 inches, sheet.
Signed in pencil lower right.
Excellent condition.

Another impression on larger paper than the previous entry.