Hermit Creek Canyon

Artist DeWitt Parshall (American, 1864–1956)

Date1910–1916

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 114.3 × 127 cm (45 × 50 in.)
framed (no buildout): 149.2 × 163.2 × 9.5 cm (58 3/4 × 64 1/4 × 3 3/4 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Terms

painting

Object number1916.57

Label TextUp until 1901, the Grand Canyon was difficult for most visitors to access given its remote location in northwest Arizona. The Santa Fe Railroad Company built tracks that year along the south of the canyon, prompting a wave of tourism. As part of a marketing campaign, the company sponsored five artists to paint the Grand Canyon. On November 5, 1910, Dewitt Parshall—alongside Elliott Daingerfield, Thomas Moran, Edward Potthast, and Frederick Ballard Williams—traveled by railway to the natural landmark. When the group arrived, they were led to the rim with their eyes closed and when Parshall saw the sight, he was reported to have gone “quite moon-mad and wandered for hours up on the rim in the unearthly splendor of its rays.” Parshall captured this impression of sunlight reflecting off the canyon walls with swift brushwork and pale pinks, yellows, and blue-purple shadows.ProvenanceDeWitt Parshall, New York NY

On View

Not on view