On November 19th Zion National Park will turn 102. For centuries the region had been the home to many Native American cultures. In 1872 John Wesley Powell first named the area Mukuntuweap, which means “straight canyon” or “straight up place” in the Paiute language. Prehistoric rock art is still visible in many locations in and around the park. It is thought that most of the rock art had been created before the 12th century A.D. by the Virgin Anasazi culture.
Photographers Carleton Watkins (1829-1916), Charles Savage (1832-1909) John Hiller (1843-1925) created some the first western images of the region. Unfortunately the black and white technology of the time could not capture the brilliant colors of the canyons.
One of the first paintings of Zion was created by Frederick S. Dellenbaugh in 1903. Dellenbaugh was an artist and assistant topographer on John Wesley Powell’s second expedition of the Colorado River from 1871-1873. In 1904 he wrote an article for Scribner’s Magazine and introduced the readers to Zion Canyon.
He wrote:
“One hardly knows just how to think of it. Never before has such a naked mountain of rock entered into our minds! Without a shred of disguise its transcendent form rises preeminent. There is almost nothing to compare it to. Niagara has the beauty of energy, the Grand Canyon, of immensity, the Yellowstone, of singularity, Yosemite of altitude; the ocean, of power; this Great Temple, of eternity-”
That same year his paintings were exhibited at the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis.
Thomas Moran visited Zion with John Wesley Powell in 1873. Like many artists Moran made sketches and obtained photographs to provide materials for his paintings to be completed in his studio. His painting “The Rio Virgin -Southern Utah” was painted in 1917, 44 years after his first and only visit to Zion
Over Peter’s 50 year career as an artist he painted many of the formations and landscapes in and around Zion such as Angel’s Landing, The Great White Throne, Checkerboard Mesa , Echo Canyon, The Sister’s, Mt. Carmel Valley, the Virgin River, Kolob Canyon and Court of the Patriarchs.
Court of the Patriarch’s (formerly known as The Three Wise Men) is a sandstone cliff on the south face of the Three Patriarchs. The Three Patriarchs are Abraham Peak, Isaac Peak and Jacob Peak. They were named by Fredrick Fisher in 1916 for these biblical figures. In front of the Three Peaks is Mount Moroni. Here is an insight into Peter’s technique and approach for his painting “ Court of the Patriarchs.”
“Court of the Patriarchs” illustrates a strategy for managing excessive textural detail that might distract from the overall effect. I chose backing lighting to greatly simplify the large shapes and to eliminate all but a few highlights. I carefully shifted from tight focus to soft focus and included a controlled modulation of color from foreground yellows and oranges to background purples.
Court of the Patriarchs along with Abraham, Isaac and Moroni are available through the Marshall Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. The other paintings are available through Peter’s estate.
There is so much more information online about the park than I could cram into a one page newsletter. Zion also offers an artist-in- residence program to professional artists. This information can be viewed on the parks website.
