Thomas Moran (American, 1837-1926) Untitled (Ruins)

Thomas Moran
(American, 1837-1926)
Untitled (Ruins)
watercolor on paper
signed T. Moran (lower right); inscribed (verso)
6 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches.
This lot is located in Denver.

In 1856, Thomas Moran finished Among the Ruins He Lingered (location unknown), a painting based on Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem entitled Alastor, about a melancholy quest of a poet. Inscribed on the reverse of the present watercolor are lines from the poem, "Among the ruined temples there/He lingered...poring on memorials/Of the world's youth." Also written on the reverse of this artwork is "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," which refers to Moran's 1859 painting, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came (Madden Museum of Art, Denver), which itself was inspired by Robert Browning's poem by the same name. Although it is unknown who wrote these lines on Untitled (Ruins), it is clear that the composition, with its small, lone figure that gazes out at the vast landscape full of architectural remains, was inspired by the Romantic and Sublime movements of the 19th century. Though small in size, the watercolor showcases the powerful talent and strong imagination of Moran, as well as his interest in contemporary literature, an inspiration he would return to throughout his career.