Back to Paintings Index
Stuart H. Morse, Artist Limited Editions
The
Lewis & Clark Commemorative Paintings
by
artist/explorer
Stuart H. Morse
Since 1999, Stuart Morse has been creating a series of ten, 5' x 10' paintings commemorating the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the unique connection of the ten states and their communities along the Lewis and Clark route. These paintings have become a Vision Beacon that represents and engages people on how people, communities and the country can celebrate and grow through their connection to a common heritage of the American Experience. These contemporary landscape paintings capture the communities and river environments through the ten states along this National Historic Trail.
Paintings Programs Presentations & Unveilings
Collectors Edition Prints
Discover
America
A celebration
of the American landscape
along the Lewis and Clark route.
Commemorative Poster
click to larger view
$9.95 (U.S.)
NEWS!
NEW 2008!! See the special exhibit of all ten original paintings unveiled in 2008 at the Kemp Auto Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. Exhibit Panoramic
"Discover America" National tour of all ten paintings is in the planning stages. Select locations across the United States are being selected to showcase this never before exhibited display.
Three of the paintings on display in St. Charles, MO.
This shows the magnitude and presence of the pieces.
Now imagine all ten, with education panels from the artist's journals and other
national organizations tied to the route.
Four of The Lewis and Clark Commemorative
Paintings
display on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC summer of 2005 sponsored
by the Bureau of Land Management, Senator Conrad Burns.
US Senator Jim Talent tours exhibit with artist Stuart Morse.
Idaho Painting and Montana Painting on display in Russell Rotunda,
United States Senate.
Oregon Painting and Washington Painting still on display in The Committee on
Resources Room, United States House of Representatives.
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of the state of Kansas unveils Kansas painting at
State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas with special exhibit of prints of the whole series
in
July 2 of 2004.
Click here to
see painting.
Recent News:
Prints of Missouri Painting presented to four nations at
Three Flags Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Signature Event, March 2004!
Museum Quality Collector's Edition prints
of the Missouri Painting were presented to the dignitaries
from the four nations represented in the ceremony for the transition of the
Louisiana Purchase Territory.
From Left: First Lady and
Governor Bob Holden of the State of Missouri, Artist Stuart Morse and His
Excellency Jean-David LEVITTE, French Ambassador to the United States.
From Left: Jose Melina, Spanish Consul St. Louis, Ambassador
Francisco J. Viqueira, Consul General of Spain, and Artist Stuart Morse.
From Left: Craig
Manson, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Interior, United States and
Artist Stuart Morse.
The paintings and fine art prints are available for display in different venues and are available for purchase.
Stuart Morse creating paintings in St. Louis Studio.
The following table are the first five paintings in the series of ten.
Second group of five to be unveiled in May 2004.
Paintings
View images and click on education panels that describe each painting.
On loan to Missouri State Capitol for Lewis and Clark Bicentennial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Majestic Rhythm of the Plains:
North Dakota
|
|
A Quiet Gathering: Montana
|
|
Transcending the Sublime Wilderness: Idaho
|
|
The Flow of Tranquility:
Washington
|
|
An Enduring Bounty: Oregon
|
|
Contact us to:
- Collect the series of fine art editions, prints and note cards.
- Schedule an exhibit of the paintings or prints in your community.
- Inquire on exhibit dates and locations.
National Lewis and Clark art exhibit at St.
Charles Signature Event.
Three of the ten paintings go on display and South Dakota Painting wins top
honors!
From Left to Right: Washington, Iowa and South Dakota
Expedition Team Member True Morse remembers his time out on the route
exploring the American landscape as he critiques the South Dakota painting.
|
Missouri Senate Left to right: Governor Holden, Artist Stuart Morse and Senator Michael Gibbons unveil Lewis and Clark Painting at Ceremony. |
|
Jefferson City, Missouri - An expansive original acrylic painting created by Missouri artist Stuart Morse depicting a present-day view overlooking the Missouri River from a bluff top near St. Albans, Mo., was unveiled at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, at the east side of the third-floor landing of the State Capitol’s grand staircase. The painting, A Journey’s Quiet Guide, is the first of five completed works in Morse’s “Lewis and Clark Commemorative Paintings” series showing a portion of the route that Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their expedition traveled through during their journey from St. Louis to the Pacific Northwest. When completed, the series will have a river-related scene of areas encountered by the Corps of Discovery in each of the ten present-day states their route traversed - a route that started from St. Louis in 1804 and coursed cross-country to the Pacific Ocean in 1805 before looping back and ending once again in St. Louis in 1806. In January at Monticello, President Jefferson’s Virginia home, Governor Holden viewed a print of A Journey’s Quiet Guide on display in a special showing marking the (approximate) 200th anniversary of the planning of both the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition traversing it. The governor had inquired about displaying Morse’s original painting in the reception area of Holden’s capitol office, where, as it turns out, there is not a suitable spot to hang the large five-foot by 10-foot framed painting. On learning of the painting and the opportunity to display it somewhere in the Statehouse, Sen. Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, worked with the governor and Morse to arrive at a workable solution. “The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition largely begins and ends here in Missouri,” Gibbons said. “Stuart’s painting beautifully embodies Missouri’s important role in the expedition and the expedition’s important role in growing a nation. It’s been a terrific honor and pleasure working on behalf of the Senate with all involved to give this painting the prominent home it so richly deserves.” In securing a stately marble-faced section of the Capitol leading to the dramatic rotunda and the main threshold of the Senate Chamber, Gibbons found a display area more visible, more accessible and more suitable than afforded in earlier scenarios. The artwork is within steps of large bronze statues of captains Clark and Lewis and two colorful related murals. These and other existing artistic tributes to the opening of the West on the Capitol grounds complement the Morse painting, which is on loan through 2006. Morse, his wife, Stacey, and their children, Merill and True, trekked across much of the Corps of Discovery’s route over three summers beginning in 2000, taking thousands of photos along the way. Back in his St. Louis area studio, Morse used the photos as models in creating his 10-painting series. “What I looked for were vantage points high above the water, be it the Missouri, Clearwater, Snake or Columbia rivers,” Morse said. “I wanted people to be able to see how the rivers moved through the landscape – something you can’t pick up when a scene is painted from the water’s edge.” Morse estimated he labored over A Journey’s Quiet Guide for more than 150 hours before satisfied.
“This, and the whole series of paintings, act as a catalyst to encourage
people to rediscover their connection to Lewis and Clark
- that the land, people and communities
of today are there for us to explore, rediscover and celebrate,” Morse said.
“Governor Holden, Senator Gibbons and others have really made a terrific
commitment to promoting the import and impact of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
If the other nine states are half as accommodating as Missouri has been, this
project will be an unqualified success.” Senator Gresheimer, Governor Holden, Artist Stuart Morse Senator Michael Gibbons, Stacey Morse, Representative Jack Jackson,
(front row) True Morse and Merill Morse.
Located at the top of the Grand Staircase in the main Rotunda. |
or call (636) 458-0886
