Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), Brigham Young and Party Entering Salt Lake Valley, 1938, oil on canvas, 65 x 74 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 1943.
In Honor of Pioneer Day Commemorating the Mormon Pioneers’ entrance into the Salt Lake Valley, Minerva Teichert’s painting balances strength and humility. Brigham Young and the entrance party heroically pose on horseback, yet they are dwarfed by the imposing mountainous landscape. Seagulls flying in the background foreshadow experiences through which the pioneers would battle for survival against the natural elements of their newfound home, with a constant faith in Divine assistance.