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MINERVA TEICHERT: BOOK OF MORMON HIGHLIGHTS

To Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), painting was more than a profession. It was a divine calling, a mission she felt compelled to work on every day. She was one of few Western women in the early twentieth century to receive formal art training at the Art Institute of Chicago and at the Art Students League in New York City. During Teichert’s time in New York, her teacher American artist Robert Henri encouraged her to paint the “Mormon story.” She boldly took up this commission, painting many scenes from the Mormon history and also assuming the task of illustrating the Book of Mormon.

The BYU Museum of Art owns the complete set of the 42 murals from Teichert’s Book of Mormon series, as well as a few other painting of Book of Mormon topics. From 1949-1951, she completely dedicated herself to this task, referring to it as the “greatest joy as well as the toughest job I ever hope to undertake.” Teichert’s murals present a dramatic synopsis of the story of the Book of Mormon. She captures the human dimension and the emotion of the stories of familiar scriptural figures, such as Nephi, Sariah, Alma, and Captain Moroni. Through her images, we can see the Book of Mormon through fresh eyes.

Prints of several of these artworks are available for purchase on the MOA Store website. You can browse here.

A Battle at the River Sidon
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'A Battle at the River Sidon,' C. 1949 - 1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Alma Baptizes at the Waters of Mormon
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Alma Baptizes in the Waters of Mormon,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 7/8 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Alma Overcomes Amlici
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Alma Overcomes Amlici,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Ammon Before King Limhi
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Ammon Before King Limhi,' c.1949-1951, oil on board, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Ammon Saves the King’s Flocks
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Ammon Saves the King’s Flocks,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

An Angel Appears to Alma and the Sons of Mosiah
Minerva Teichart (1888-1976), 'An Angle Appears to Alma and the Sons of Mosiah,' C. 1949-1951, Oil on Board, 36 x 48 Inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Answer of Lachoneus
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Answer of Lachoneus,' c.1949-1951, oil on linen on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Christ in America
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Christ in America,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 x 46 1/2 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Christian Converts
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Christian Converts,' c.1949-1951, oil on board, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The City of Gid
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The City of Gid,' C.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Death of Amalackiah
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Death of Amalackiah,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 3/4 x 47 7/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Defense of a Nephite City
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Defense of a Nephite City,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Destruction on the Western Continent
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Destruction on the Western Continent,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Earthquake
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Earthquake,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Escape of Alma’s People
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Escape of Alma’s People,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Escape of King Limhi and His People
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Escape of King Limhi and His People,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 7/8 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Flight
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Flight,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Gadianton’s Band
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Gadianton’s Band,' c.1949-1951, oil on board, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Helaman’s Striplings/Samuel the Lamanite
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Helaman’s Striplings/Samuel the Lamanite,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Journey of the Jaredites Across Asia
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Journey of the Jaredites Across Asia,' c.1949-1951, oil on linen on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

King Benjamin’s Farewell Address
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'King Benjamin’s Farewell Address,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Lamanite Maidens
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Lamanite Maidens,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Last Battle Between the Nephites and the Lamanites
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Last Battle Between the Nephites and the Lamanites,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Law on the Plates of Brass
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Law on the Plates of Brass,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 7/8 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Lehi in the Dessert
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Lehi in the Dessert,' c.1964, oil on canvas, 81 7/16 x 103 1/16 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Charles and Laurie Teichert Eastwood, 2008.

Loading the Ship
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Loading the Ship,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Love Story
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Love Story,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Meeting with Lamoni’s Father
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Meeting with Lamoni’s Father,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 47 15/16 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Morianton’s Maidservant
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Morianton’s Maidservant,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Moroni: The Last Nephite
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Moroni: The Last Nephite,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Moroni and the Title of Liberty
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Moroni and the Title of Liberty,' c.1930, oil on canvas, 72 x 108 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1949.

Mosiah Discovers Zarahemla
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Mosiah Discovers Zarahemla,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 7/8 x 47 15/16 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Mosiah Interprets the Jaredite Stone
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Mosiah Interprets the Jaredite Stone,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Nephi, the Builder, Forging Swords
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Nephi, the Builder, Forging Swords,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 7/8 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Nephi Bound
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Nephi Bound,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 47 15/16 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Nephi Leads His Followers into the Wilderness
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Nephi Leads His Followers into the Wilderness,' c.1940, oil on plywood, 29 1/8 x 47 1/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1959.

The Promised Land
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Promised Land,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 41 5/8 x 53 11/16 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Record of the Jaredites
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Record of the Jaredites,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Sacrament
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Sacrament,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Ship of Hagoth
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Ship of Hagoth,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

The Title of Liberty
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'The Title of Liberty,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Treachery of Amalickiah
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Treachery of Amalickiah,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 35 15/16 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Treasures in Exchange for the Plates of Brass
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Treasures in Exchange for the Plates of Brass,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

Trial of Abinadi
Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), 'Trial of Abinadi,' c.1949-1951, oil on masonite, 36 x 48 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1969.

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