Painting Mount Olympus - No Easy Task for Mere Mortals
Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 9:09PM Tweet By Donna Poulton
Artist: Mark Knudsen, 2010. Credit: Private Collection and courtesy of Mark Knudsen
Mount Olympus is not the tallest mountain in the Wasatch Range, but anyone who has seen this natural wonder will agree with the early pioneers who bestowed upon it the Greek name for ‘the home of the gods.’ Mount Olympus acts as an anchor in the Salt Lake Valley, an unchanging reference point locating residents both in their environment and their history.
Artist: Gilbert Munger, 1877. Credit: Springville Museum of Art
Settling in its shadow, early pioneers recognized the mountain’s importance as source of water in a dry land and for the abundant timber that cloaked the lower reaches of the massive granite façade. For those who worked with their hands, the gods of Mount Olympus offered up rich rewards. But it was when the pioneers put away their plows and saws and picked up pencils and paintbrushes that the true majesty of Mount Olympus came to light. For the past century and a half, some of America’s greatest artists have attempted to do justice to Mount Olympus…not an easy task for mere mortals.
Artist: James T. Harwood, 1938. Credit: Corporate Collection of Snow, Christensen & Martineau
Artist: Edwin Deakin, 1883. Credit: Private Collection
Artist: David Miekle, 2003. Credit: David Meikle
Artist: Victor LeCheminant, 1950s. Credit: Doug LeCheminant
Artist: Linda Curley Christensen, 2010. Credit: Linda Curley
Artist: Rob Colvin, 2009. Credit: Rob Colvin
Artist: Leslie Thomas, 2010. Credit: Leslie Thomas
Artist: Edward Maryon, 1988. Credit: Corporate Collection of Mt. Olympus Waters
David Miekle, Edward Maryon, Edwin Deakin, Gilbert Munger, James T. Harwood, Leslie Thomas, Linda Curley Christensen, Mark Knudsen, Mount Olympus, Rob Colvin, Victor Le Cheminant, Wasatch Range | in David Meikle, Ed Maryon, Edwin Deakin, Gilbert Munger, James T. Harwood, Leslie Thomas, Linda Curley Christensen, Mark Knudsen, Rob Colvin, Victor Le Cheminant
Reader Comments (4)
I love getting my art lesson 11pm while I am in bed. Thanks!
Thank you for a great comparison sampling.
Having lived at the base of this mountain for almost 60 years, i'll vote for Linda Curley's Take on it. I have framed a few Hafen's and Harwoods that I love of the mountain !
This Maryon is beautiful , so interesting to see all of the varying interpretations!