by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000
Thomas Moran was born in a family of textile workers as the fifth son. He was born on the 12th day of February in the year 1837 in the City of Bolton, United Kingdom, and died on the 25th day of August in the year 1926.
Due to the industrial revolution, Moran's parents, who were working as laborers in the textile industry, were forced to relocate to America to search for better opportunities.
As a talented illustrator and exceptional colorist of the time, Thomas Moran was offered a job as an illustrator at Scribner's Monthly. By the late 1860s, he was promoted to the position of the chief illustrator for magazine. This position helped him advance his painting career as a premier landscape painter.
Thomas Moran is among the renowned painter and print-maker of the western landscapes. While at the peak of his career as a landscape painter, Moran traveled to Venice, in England to see Turner's artworks. While there, the views of the beautiful town inspired him for the better of his career after that. He painted several scenes from the inspiration he got while on a visit to Venice, including his famous painting View of Venice.
The view of Venice depicts a bright outlook of the Venice territory. Different landmarks of the city are clearly shown in the painting. For instance, Doge’s palace, the tower of St. Marks, and Dogana have been included in the view. The painting depicts Moran's romantic fiction in addition to his creative imagination of the piece of art. Given the magnificent look of the painting, it depicts the real outlook of the city in the past as the artists had viewed it. The magnificence of the painting depicts a nostalgia that evokes fantasy that is associated with the city of Venice.
The artist has captured the sun as it illuminates the city to bring out a clear view. Besides, the painting depicts the sky and the clouds that complement its overall scenery. This work further incorporates a water body and boats in it that depict the movement of people across the water body. Given his talent, Moran includes the reflection of the sun, buildings, and the boat in the water to depict realism. The integration of the waterbody depicts the significant relaxation of the residents and the feelings of fantasy on the viewers as they behold the beautiful appearance of the city.
The painting was done back in 1895. The medium used for the piece of art is oil and canvas. Currently, it is located in Davis Museum Wellesley. The mood of the painting is relaxation, as well as nostalgia. The painting measures 16 1/2 by 26 1/2 inches.