If some of the major early artists in the West—Catlin, Bodmer, Miller, Audubon, Bierstadt—had painted in Arizona, they would be on this list. But from the 1820s-60s, we were too remote, unexplored and had far too many hostile Indians.
In selecting these 10 paintings, I have taken into account the many outstanding examples of Arizona subject matter the artists created. The only exception is Blumenschein, yet his painting of Roosevelt Dam is, after Hoover Dam, of the most significant structure in Arizona.
Abe Hays, the founder of Arizona West Galleries (1976) in Scottsdale, Arizona, is now semi-retired with son, Gregory Hays, as president.
Photo Gallery
– Hays Collection, Paradise Valley, Arizona –
– Private Collection, Colorado –
– Private Collection, Massachusetts –
– Hogg Brothers Collection/Museum of Fine Arts Houston –
– Newark Museum, New Jersey –
– Private Collection, Arizona –
.– Private Collection, California –
– Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff –
– Montclair Art Museum, New Jersey –
1. The Chasm of the Colorado, Thomas Moran (1837-1926), 1873-74 Oil on Canvas; Abe’s Estimate: $100 million.
– Smithsonian American Art Museum –
Related Articles
-
There is little doubt that I could identify the top 1,000 paintings to the satisfaction…
-
During the early 1900s Rufus Nephew aka “Climax Jim,” was one of the most notorious…
-
Independent filmmaker Cameron Trejo and historian Heidi Osselaer recently debuted the documentary, Power’s War, at…
