Lorus B. Pratt was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1855. He was the son of Orson Pratt Lorus Pratt was a landscape and portrait painter. He died in 1923.

Pratt studied art at the University of Deseret with Dan Weggeland and George M. Ottinger. In 1890, church leaders felt a need for "modern French murals" in the temples. As a result, Pratt, along with John Hafen, J.B. Fairbanks and Edwin Evans were sent to Paris to study art at the Academie Julian.

Harvest in France was painted in 1891. It depicts a field in early morning, full of haystacks and sunlight. Pratt's attention to light as the subject and the pastel color scheme is reminiscent of the impressionistic style.

Biography adapted from Artists of Utah.

Lorus B. Pratt, son of Orson Pratt, studied art at the University of Deseret with Dan Weggeland and George M. Ottinger. After being encouraged by these two professors, Pratt traveled to New York and Philadelphia for further study. While in Philadelphia, Pratt visited an exposition of American and European Art. It was this experience that ignited Pratt's desire to travel to Europe and study.

Pratt's first visit to Europe came in 1879 when he was called to serve an L.D.S. mission to England with his father Orson Pratt. In 1885, he traveled to Paris with his wife and four children. In 1890, church leaders felt a need for "modern French murals" in the temples. As a result, Pratt, along with John Hafen, J.B. Fairbanks and Edwin Evans were sent to Paris to study art at the Academie Julian. Pratt was greatly influenced by Rigelot, a landscape artist who worked in the tradition of Corot. During this period, Pratt's subject matter changed to depictions of "Workers of the soil." This harvest genre continued to be Pratt's most significant subject matter into the twentieth century. Before going to Paris, Pratt found local support for his artwork. However, on his return, Pratt's work did not gain acceptance. Therefore, his artwork ended up with relatives or bill collectors. Lorus B. Pratt died in 1923 surrounded by poverty. However, he passed on the love for art to his son and grandson.

Harvest in France was painted in 1891. It depicts a field in early morning, full of haystacks and sunlight. Pratt's attention to light as the subject and the pastel color scheme is reminiscent of the impressionistic style.

Biography courtesy Springville Museum of Art.

Newspaper Articles

"Council's Traveling Shows Put Art On Display All Across State." The Deseret News, August 27, 1989.

"Exhibits Provide A Chronicle Of Utah Art: Works Range From The Tiny To The Immense." The Deseret News, March 4, 1990.

"Utah Artists Of Yesterday And Today." The Deseret News, May 14, 1989.

Books

Davenport, Ray. Davenport's Art Reference. Ventura, CA: Davenport's Art Reference, 2001.

Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson, ed. The Artists Bluebook: 29,000 North American Artists. Scottsdale, AZ: AskART.com, 2003.

Falk, Peter Hastings. The Annual Exhibition Record of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1888-1950. Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1990.

Falk, Peter Hastings. Who was Who in American Art: Compiled from the Original Thirty-four Volumes of American Art Annual--Who's Who in Art, Biographies of American Artists Active from 1898-1947. Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1985.

Falk, Peter Hastings. Who Was who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America. Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1999.

Gerdts, William H. Art Across America: Two Centuries of Regional Painting, 1710-1920. New York, NY: Abbeville Press, 1990.

Haseltine, James L. 100 years of Utah Painting: Selected Works from the 1840s to the 1940. Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake Arts Center, 1965.

Mallett, Daniel Trowbridge. Index of Artists, International-biographical; Including Painters, Sculptors, Illustrators, Engravers and Etchers of the Past and the Present. New York, NY: Peregrine Smith, 1948.

Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. Artists of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999.

Samuels, Peggy, and Harold Samuels. The Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1976.

Swanson, Vern G., Robert S. Olpin, Donna Poulton, and Janie Rogers. 150 Year Survey of Utah Art, Utah Artists. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2001.

Swanson, Vern G., Robert S. Olpin, and William C. Seifrit. Utah Painting and Sculpture. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1991.

Swanson, Vern G., Robert S. Olpin, and William C. Seifrit. Utah Art. Layton, UT: Peregrine Smith Books, 1991.