Thomas Hill
(1829-1908 San Francisco, CA)
"Half Dome Mountain, Mirror Lake, Yosemite, Calif.," 1867
Oil on canvas laid to canvas
Signed and dated lower right: T. Hill, titled in another hand on a label affixed to the stretcher, with alternate title on exhibition label affixed verso: "Mirror Lake"
26" H x 42" W

Exhibitions: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, "American Paintings in Los Angeles Collections," May 7 - June 30, 1974, No. ex.74.730.

Notes: Born in Birmingham England in 1829, Hill emigrated to the United States at 15, settling in Taunton, Massachusetts. Finding an artistic home outside the world of industrial Midlands England and New England, Hill took solace and inspiration in rugged mountainous landscapes. Hill began his education in 1851 at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and studied under its director, Peter Frederick Rothermel. Several Hudson River School painters were frequent companions on his painting trips to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the influence of their aesthetics, particularly grand idealized landscapes, are evident in Hill's work. In 1856 Hill moved west to the burgeoning city of San Francisco, a bustling but altogether different place than the busy cities of the East Coast. Nine years later in 1865, he made his first journey to Yosemite, beginning a relationship with the valley that would last for the rest of his life and where he would make yearly sketching trips.

"Half Dome Mountain, Mirror Lake, Yosemite, Calif." was executed just two years after Hill made his first trip to Yosemite in 1867. An early adopter of painting en plein air (to paint outdoors directly from the landscape), Hills' love of the outdoors and natural world is particularly evident in this work. Replacing the presence of man—typical in Hudson River School-style vistas—with a family of deer, the work transports the viewer into an immersive communion with nature. The calm, mirror-like lake in the foreground is cast in a deep shadow by the steep incline of the righthand peak, directing the eye inward to the mid-ground. There we begin to see the red hues of sunlight picked up by the yellow-green pine trees jutting up with warm-toned rolling gray peaks just beyond. Hints of jagged mountain tops in the background covered in a carpet of soft green grass are cooled by a shroud of mist echoing the streaks and puffs of the clouds in the upper sky.

Hill would return to the same valley again and again over his long career, creating a lasting body of work that celebrates the rugged nature of one of America's oldest National Parks. His earthy palettes of greens, browns, and warm grays record Yosemite as it was and, in many ways, still is; an earthly palace of reflection and closeness with nature where there is still craggy peaks, families of deer, and calm cool water.

Conditions of Sale

Terms and Conditions for John Moran Auctioneers
Conditions of Sale

AUCTION HOUSE AS AGENT
Except as otherwise stated, John Moran Auctioneers Moran's) acts as agent for the seller. The contract for the sale of the property is therefore made between the seller and the buyer.

BEFORE THE AUCTION
(a) Public Preview: All property is available for inspection by public preview during the day of auction. In many cases, particular lots can be examined in advance by private appointment. Prospective buyers are strongly encouraged to personally examine any property in which they are interested.
(b) Buyer's Responsibility: Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.
(c) Property Sold 'As Is': Neither Moran's nor the seller provides any guarantee in relation to the nature of the property, or to any errors or omissions in the catalogue or supplemental material apart from the Limited Warranty stated below. Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply than an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others.

AT THE AUCTION
(a) Admission: The auction is open to the public, though Moran's reserves the right to refuse admission or participation to anyone at any time. The auctioneer may be recorded (visually, aurally or otherwise) and all participants consent to such recording.
(b) Buyer Registration: Prospective buyers must register with Moran's before bidding. Moran's may require identification and financial references in advance of buyer eligibility. Registered bidders accept personal liability to pay the purchase price, including the buyer's premium plus all applicable charges, unless Moran's agrees in advance that the bidder is acting as agent on behalf of an identified third party acceptable to Moran's. In such case, Moran's will look to the third party for payment.
(c) Bidding Guidelines: Bidding, whether in person, by agent, absentee bid, telephone, or internet, constitutes a bidder's acceptance of these conditions. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the buyer. The auctioneer retains the absolute right to reject any bid, to withdraw, pass or divide any lots, to combine multiple lots, to advance the bidding at his or her absolute discretion and (in the case of error or dispute, whether during or after the sale) to determine the successful bidder, to continue the bidding, cancel the sale or to re-offer and sell the lot in question. Under no circumstances are the consignors' or agents acting on their behalf, permitted to bid on their consignment. In the event of any dispute after the auction Moran's sale record shall be conclusive.
(d) Absentee, Telephone and Internet Bidding: Moran's offers absentee, telephone and internet bidding as a convenience to clients and does not accept liability for errors or failures to execute such bids. Absentee and telephone bids must be recognized by Moran's prior to auction day. When identical absentee bids are submitted that become the highest bids at the auction, the bid first received by Moran's shall be accepted as the winning bid. Telephone bidders are encouraged to leave minimum bids in case of technical failure.
(e) Reserves: Unless indicated otherwise, lots may be offered subject to a reserve, which is the confidential minimum price below which the lot will not be sold. The reserve for any lot shall not exceed its published estimate. Moran's shall act to protect the reserve by bidding through the auctioneer, who may open bidding on any lot below the reserve by placing a bid on the seller's behalf. The auctioneer may continue to bid on behalf of the seller up to the reserve amount, either by placing consecutive bids or by placing bids in response to other bidders. Lots without reserves are typically opened for bidding at 50% of their low estimate. In the absence of a bid at that level, the auctioneer may proceed backwards at his discretion or deem the lot unsold if a bid is not recognized.

AFTER THE AUCTION
(a) Payment and Title Transfer: The buyer agrees to pay the sum of the hammer price plus Buyer's Premium, plus any applicable sales tax. Buyer's Premium is calculated as follows: 25% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 18% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 15% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer. Successful bidders using Live Auctioneers platform will be charged a Buyer's Premium of: 28% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 21% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 18% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer.

Credit card payments will be subject to an additional 2% buyer's premium. Buyers outside the United States must submit payment via wire transfer. Credit cards are not an accepted form of payment for buyers outside the United States. Buyers are strongly encouraged to provide full payment at the auction. Payment must be received by Moran's within five business days immediately following the auction. The buyer shall not acquire title or take possession of the lot until all amounts (including the hammer price, premium and applicable taxes) due to Moran's have been paid in full.

(b) Collection: Buyers are strongly encouraged to collect purchased items from the sale site at the time of the auction. Packing material and labor are provided free of charge at the sale site during the auction. Packing and handling of purchased lot is undertaken by Moran's solely as a convenience to customers. Moran's is not liable for damage to property, regardless of cause, in connection with this courtesy service
(c) Storage: Following the auction, uncollected lots shall be relocated to and stored in Moran's warehouse. Moran's shall retain possession of all purchases until full payment has been received from the buyer. Lots remaining uncollected after the fifth business day following the sale, regardless of payment status, are subject to a per-lot daily storage charge of $10.00. In addition to other remedies available by law, Moran's reserves the right to impose upon delinquent buyers a separate 1% monthly charge (of the purchase price, or the maximum permitted by law) commencing on the sixth business day after the sale date.
(d) Shipping: Buyers are responsible for arranging their own shipping estimates and deliveries. Moran's in our discretion and as a courtesy to buyers, can arrange to have purchased lots packed, insured and forwarded by a third-party shipper at the request, expense and risk of the buyer. Moran's assumes no responsibility for acts or omissions in such packing or shipping by other packers or carriers, even if recommended by Moran's. Nor does Moran's assume any responsibility for any damage to picture frames or to the glass therein. In circumstances where Moran's arranges for such third-party services, Moran's may apply an administration charge of 15% of that service fee.
(e) All Sales Final: Notwithstanding other terms mentioned herein, refunds shall be given at Moran's sole discretion. Refunds requested on the grounds of authenticity must be made within 10 days of the auction and accompanied by a supporting written statement from a recognized authority (defined as a person who has authored, edited, or substantially contributed to a monograph on the artist, a person who has curated, organized or substantially contributed to a solo exhibition on the artist, a person who has represented the artist's estate or someone who represented or worked closely with the artist while they were alive and, in any of the above instances physically handled works of the period, medium and subject matter in question during the course of their duties) stating that the object sold is incorrect or not the work of the artist. Dealers, appraisers and representatives of other auction firms do not qualify as authenticators of individual artists unless they have had such specific involvement with that artist's work, as specified above, in addition to their daily duties. Refunded lots must be returned to Moran's in the same condition as when sold. Moran's does not grant extensions to refund considerations based upon authenticity due to shipping delays. There are no exceptions to this refund policy.

LIABILITY AND LIMITED WARRANTY
(a) Liability: The buyer expressly agrees that (i) neither Moran's nor the seller shall be liable, in whole or in part, for any special, indirect or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profits and (ii) the buyer's damages, if any, are limited exclusively to the original purchase price paid for the lot.
(b) Limited Warranty: All property is sold as is. Neither Moran's nor the consignor or our associates make any representation, express or implied warranty (including merchantability and fitness) or guarantee in condition, age, size, provenance, medium, signature, inscription, exhibition history, importance, rarity, country of origin, genuineness, historical relevance, monetary or other value, framing or lack thereof, mounting, conservation, coloring, palette, inscription, edition, style, label or other descriptor. No statement in the catalogue, brochures, website, bill of sale or invoice, any supplementary material, or statements by any Moran's employee shall be deemed such a warranty or representation or an assumption of liability.
(c) Descriptions: No warranty, whether express or implied, is made with respect to any description contained in this auction or any second opinion. Any description of the items or second opinion is for the courtesy of identifying the items for those Bidders who do not have the opportunity to view the lots in person, and no description of items has been made part of the basis of the transaction or has created any express warranty that the goods would conform to any description made by the Auctioneer. Color variations can be expected in any electronic or printed imaging and are not grounds for the return of any lot.
(d) Estimates: All estimates provided are carefully considered opinions of Moran's specialists, and are merely suggested guidelines for interested buyers. Buyers must be aware that all property sold is subject to fluctuating values depending on the subjective interests of collectors and a wide variety of other uncontrollable factors. The lots auctioned may sell at prices above, within, or below estimate.
(e) Regulated Species: Lots with a ? symbol in the printed or digital catalog, or noted within the condition report of a lot, may contain regulated plant or animal materials and could be subject to certain import or export restrictions. It is the buyer's responsibility to investigate any such restrictions and obtain any required import or export permits / licenses. The inability to obtain any such document(s) is not grounds for requesting a refund nor does it negate the buyer from making full payment for their purchase.
(f) Notices, Demands and Refunds: Any demands for refunds, problems with the lot(s) sold or notices of any kind concerning the auction shall be in writing and addressed to John Moran Auctioneers, Inc, 145 East Walnut Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016.

ADDITIONAL MATTERS
(a) Copyright: The copyright on all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for Moran's for this auction is and shall remain at all times the property of Moran's. Moran's and the seller make no representation or warranty that the buyer will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights to a purchased lot.
(b) Buyer's Breach of Conditions: If a buyer fails to comply with any of these conditions, Moran's may, in addition to asserting all remedies available by law, including the right to hold that buyer liable for the purchase price, (i) cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payment made by the buyer, (ii) resell the property without reserve at public auction or privately upon notice to the buyer, or (iii) take such other action as we deem necessary or appropriate. If Moran's resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency between the original sale price and any subsequent mitigation sale, including warehousing, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorney's fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder. In the event that such buyer pays a portion of the purchase price for any property, Moran's shall apply the payment received to such property that Moran's in our sole discretion, deems appropriate. Moran's shall have the benefit of all rights of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code adopted in the State of California.
(c) Severability: Should any of these conditions be deemed unenforceable, invalid or illegal in any court having jurisdiction, that part shall be discounted and shall have no effect on the enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein, which shall remain valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(d) Jurisdiction: The rights and obligations of the parties with respect to these conditions and the conduct of the auction shall be governed and interpreted by the laws of the State of California. By bidding, whether in person or by agent, by absentee bid, telephone, internet or other means, the buyer shall be deemed to have consented to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the state of California or, if applicable, the federal courts sitting in this state. Further, the buyer agrees that the venue for any action arising out of the failure to abide by these conditions, or any conduct related to or arising out of the auction, shall be the Los Angeles Superior Court, North East Branch located at 600 Olive Street, Burbank, California.

CREDIT CARDS, CONTINUED

Buyers outside the United States must submit payment via wire transfer. Credit cards are not an accepted form of payment for buyers outside the United States.

TAXES

Applicable state sales tax applies unless a valid resale license is provided.

CONTRACT

Except as otherwise stated, John Moran Auctioneers (Moran's) acts as agent for the seller. The contract for the sale of the property is therefore made between the seller and the buyer.

SALE CONDITIONS

Payment and Title Transfer: The buyer agrees to pay the sum of the hammer price plus Buyer's Premium, plus any applicable sales tax. Buyer's Premium is calculated as follows: 25% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 18% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 15% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer. Successful bidders using Live Auctioneers platform will be charged a Buyer's Premium of: 30% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 23% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 20% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer.

Credit card payments will be subject to an additional 3.5% acceptance fee. This fee is not more than the cost of accepting these cards. Buyers outside the United States must submit payment via wire transfer. Credit cards are not an accepted form of payment for buyers outside the United States. Buyers are strongly encouraged to provide full payment at the auction. Payment must be received by Moran's within five business days immediately following the auction. The buyer shall not acquire title or take possession of the lot until all amounts (including the hammer price, premium and applicable taxes) due to Moran's have been paid in full.

SHIPPING

Buyers are responsible for arranging their own shipping estimates and deliveries. Moran's in our discretion and as a courtesy to buyers, can arrange to have purchased lots packed, insured and forwarded by a third-party shipper at the request, expense and risk of the buyer. Moran's assumes no responsibility for acts or omissions in such packing or shipping by other packers or carriers, even if recommended by Moran's. Nor does Moran's assume any responsibility for any damage to picture frames or to the glass therein. In circumstances where Moran's arranges for such third-party services, Moran's may apply an administration charge of 15% of that service fee.

BUYERS PREMIUM

The buyer agrees to pay the sum of the hammer price plus Buyer's Premium, plus any applicable sales tax. Buyer's Premium is calculated as follows: 25% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 18% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 15% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer. Successful bidders using Live Auctioneers platform will be charged a Buyer's Premium of: 30% on the first $500,000 of the hammer price, plus 23% on any amount between $500,001 - $1,000,000, and 20% on any amount above $1,000,000 when paying by cash, check or wire transfer.

CONDITION

Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.

All property is sold as is. Neither Moran's nor the consignor or our associates make any representation, express or implied warranty (including merchantability and fitness) or guarantee in condition, age, size, provenance, medium, signature, inscription, exhibition history, importance, rarity, country of origin, genuineness, historical relevance, monetary or other value, framing or lack thereof, mounting, conservation, coloring, palette, inscription, edition, style, label or other descriptor. No statement in the catalogue, brochures, website, bill of sale or invoice, any supplementary material, or statements by any Moran's employee shall be deemed such a warranty or representation or an assumption of liability.