”Sunset Over The Mississippi“
18 X 24 Oil
Painted immediately following his first trip to Nauvoo, Sunset Over the Mississippi
was David’s first completed studio work for the series. Very soft-edged even for
David, the painting captures mood more than place. Sunset Over the Mississippi is
accurate more to the environs of restored Nauvoo than it is to Nauvoo in the days
prior to the exodus. One can just identify the 70’s hall as it stands today alone
in the distance.
Currently, restored Nauvoo consists mostly of scattered buildings, brick, wood sided,
and log and a first time visitor is struck by its rural, peaceful tranquility, especially
during the off season. At its peak, Nauvoo would have been a large and vibrant city
located on the very edge of the American frontier. Joseph Smith, first prophet and
founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explained that the word
Nauvoo meant “beautiful.” Located on a sweeping bend in the river with it’s impressive
white limestone temple standing prominently on the hill overlooking the Mississippi,
Nauvoo was and is again truly a beautiful place.
A testament to the industry of the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo rose quickly from the wetlands along the banks of the Mississippi
River to become a major western city. Initially founded in 1839 as a place of refuge
for early church members, Nauvoo would grow to become the gathering place for converts
from across America and Europe. For seven years, Nauvoo would serve as the center
of the rapidly growing church nicknamed “Mormon” by outsiders.
Soon, however, the specter of persecution would haunt the Mormons again. On June
27, 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were shot and killed by an angry mob
while being held in a nearby jail. The long suffering “saints” would soon be emigrants
yet again, this time with their eyes set on the seclusion of the Rocky Mountain West
with Brigham Young as their new leader.
Private Collection