Letter to the Editor

Minerva Teichart

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dear Editor,

Today Minerva Teichart's artwork is famous, especially in the western U.S.

I first learned about her in oil painting class. Kay Clesson, a McCook artist who taught that class, was a great admirer of her work.

Minerva Berrnitta (Kohlepp) Teichart was born in 1888 at Ogden, Utah. She died in 1976 at Provo, Utah. The Kohlepp family had a ranch in Idaho. She did chores and became an expert cowhand.

At the young age of 4, Minerva showed an interest in art. She graduated from high school at 16 and attended the Art Institute of Chicago. She studied there under John Vanderpoel. Later, she received a scholarship to the Art Students' League in New York City.

She needed money for living expenses, (so) putting her talent to work, she sketched cadavers for medical schools, illustrated childrens' books and painted portraits.

Robert Henri was her art instructor and mentor. He urged her to leave New York and to go home and paint historical scenes about her Mormon pioneer ancestors.

She married Herman Teichart. They established a ranch at Cokeville, Wyoming. Their five children kept her busy. She cooked for ranch hands, kept their finances balanced and roped cows.

At night, while the children slept, she painted on canvas that was tacked to the living room wall. Often, she would look through the wrong end of some binoculars to check the perspective of her creations.

In 1930, she sold her painting, "Miracle of the Gulls," for a large sum. She used the proceeds to pay college tuition for Betty Curtis, a young neighbor girl. Thanks to Minerva Teichart, Betty furthered her education during the Great Depression.

Over a period of 45 years Minerva Teichart painted 400 murals.

For more information read Robyn Gael's Examples of Charity and check the Dec. 14, 2010, Internet, and the Deseret News and Church News of Oct. 22, 2011.

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Nebraska

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