Background
Peter Moran was born on March 4, 1841, at Bolton, England, the son of Thomas Moran, Sr. and Mary Higson, and younger brother of Thomas and Edward Moran. He was brought to the United States by his parents in 1844.
Peter Moran was born on March 4, 1841, at Bolton, England, the son of Thomas Moran, Sr. and Mary Higson, and younger brother of Thomas and Edward Moran. He was brought to the United States by his parents in 1844.
When he was sixteen his father apprenticed him to Herline & Hersel of Philadelphia to learn the art of lithographic printing. This specialty, however, failed to appeal to his taste, and after a few months it became so distasteful to him that he picked a quarrel with his employers as a result of which his indenture was canceled. He then made prompt use of his freedom by taking lessons in drawing, painting, and etching from his two elder brothers, who were already established as artists.
Afterwards Moran was greatly impressed by some landscapes by Émile Lambinet which he had seen in the Philadelphia picture shops. A little later he was enamored of Rosa Bonheur's cattle-pieces and as he matured he came under the influence of Constant Troyon.
Animal life chiefly engrossed him as a subject, and he cherished a natural desire to study Landseer's works in London, a desire which he was able to gratify in 1863, when he returned to his native land for about a year's sojourn. He took with him a letter of introduction to Landseer, but he never presented it, possibly because of youthful shyness, but also because, when he came to see Landseer's originals in the galleries, he was somewhat disappointed in them.
He returned to Philadelphia in 1864, set up a studio, and passed the rest of his professional life there. From the sixties on for a half-century he was incessantly at work painting and etching. In the field of animal painting he soon won a reputation not less well deserved than that of his elder brothers in their specialties of landscape and marine work.
He made several long trips to the West and Southwest with his brother Thomas, and found in New Mexico a number of picturesque and novel motives in the old Indian pueblos. But it was more especially as a competent and prolific etcher that he made his mark. Few Americans of that period were producing such admirable and thoroughly artistic plates.
He died on November 9, 1914, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in his seventy-third year.
Peter Moran became president of the Philadelphia Society of Etchers, a member of several other artistic associations, including the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
On July 7, 1867, Peter Moran was married to Emily Kelley, of Dublin, Ireland, who was also a painter and etcher.
His second wife was Sarah D. C. Francis, of Philadelphia, whom he married in 1911.