Grandma Moses, American Folk Artist


Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 - December 13, 1961), better known by her nickname of "Grandma Moses,""was a renowned American folk artist. Having begun painting in earnest at the age of 78, she is often cited as an example of an individual successfully beginning a career in the arts at an advanced age. Her works have been shown and sold in the United States and abroad and have been marketed on greeting cards and other merchandise. Her paintings are among the collections of many museums. Moses has appeared on magazine covers, television, and in a documentary of her life. She wrote an autobiography of her life, won numerous awards and was awarded two honorary doctoral degrees. Starting at 12 years of age and for a total of 15 years, she was a live-in housekeeper. One of the families that she worked for, who noticed her appreciation for their prints made by Currier and Ives, supplied her with art materials to create drawings. Moses and her husband began their married life in Virginia, where they worked on farms. In 1905 they returned to Northeastern United States and settled in Eagle Bridge, New York. The couple had five children who survived infancy. Her interest in art was expressed throughout her life, including embroidery of pictures with yarn, until arthritis made this pursuit too painful. She died in 1961 at the age of 101.


Size: 3388px × 4531px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 1860, 1961, 20th, america, american, anna, art, artist, arts, bw, centenarian, century, elderly, famous, female, figure, fine, folk, grandma, historic, historical, history, important, mary, moses, notable, painter, people, person, personalities, personality, photo, photograph, portrait, robertson, states, united, usa, western, woman, women