Lake Scene

The sublime scenery that the 26-year-old artist encountered during his sojourn among the lakes of the Wind River chain left him feeling inadequate to the task: “the scene in reality was charming, but would have required the pencil of a Stanfield, Turner, or Church in giving it due effect and rendering it complete justice. Patiently it awaits the coming man.”

            In the meantime, however, Miller explained that

The most favorable time to view these Lakes (to an artist especially) was early in the morning or towards sunset;–at these times one side or the other would be thrown into deep purple masses, throwing great broad shadows, with sharp light glittering on the extreme tops,–while the opposite mountains received its full complement of warm, mellow & subdued light;–thus forming a chiaro obscure and contrast most essential to the picturesque in color:–an attempt has been made to reach this in the sketch.

Ron Tyler