(Pennsylvania/California, 1837-1926)

On the Welsh Coast, 1885, signed and dated with artists monogram cipher "TM 85" lower right, oil on panel, 12-1/4 x 25 in.; original carved gilt wood and composition frame, labeled "Thos. Thos. A. Wilmurt" verso, 24-3/4 x 37-1/2 in.

Provenance: Acquired from the artist (family tradition holds that four Moran works were acquired directly from the artist, one each year from 1882 to 1886); By descent in family; Private Knoxville Collection 

Note: This painting will be included in Phyllis Braff, Melissa Webster Speidel and Stephen L. Good's forthcoming catalogue raisonne of the artist's works.

The scene Moran portrayed here appears to be Conway Castle and its environs. For related pencil sketches, see Moran Thomas and Anne Morand. 1996. Thomas Moran the Field Sketches 1856-1923. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press for the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art Tulsa, nos. 599 and 609.

 In March 2012, a new record was set by Brunk Auctions for a Thomas Moran watercolor titled, Cliffs of Green River-Wyoming Territory which sold for $1,700,000. The significance of that work was in part due to the provenance, which could be traced back to the artist and was documented through a photograph of the painting in the home circa 1895. It was also noted in an early family inventory. This painting comes from the same collection and was likely acquired around the same time as Cliffs of Green River.

panel with 1-1/2 in. crack extending from right edge under frame, surface dirt layer, yellowed varnish, panel with very slight warp; frame with losses at edges, cracking, grime, wear commensurate with age