Edward Moran

Born in England, Edward Moran is best known for his marine paintings, and is credited with the Moran family’s entry into the art world.

His family immigrated to Maryland in 1844 from Lancashire, England, where his father was a hand loom weaver.  Edward, who was one of twelve children, left home to work in a cotton factory in Philadelphia.  He impressed his employer with the large, wall-sized, sketches he did, and was encouraged to pursue art as a career.  He and his brother studied and shared a studio in Philadelphia and then both returned for a time to England.  There copying the paintings of J M W Turner heavily influenced them.