Grandma Moses

Date of Birth: September 7, 1860

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: December 13, 1961

Biography

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist who began her prolific painting career in her late 70s. Born on September 7, 1860, in Greenwich, New York, she spent much of her life as a farm wife and mother, only turning to painting as a hobby after arthritis made it difficult for her to continue her embroidery work. Her charming, simplistic depictions of rural life, often painted from memory, captured the imagination of the public and art critics alike. Moses’s work was exhibited internationally, and she became a beloved figure in American art, celebrated for her vibrant, colorful scenes and her inspiring life story. She passed away on December 13, 1961, at the age of 101.

5 Interesting Facts about Grandma Moses

1. Grandma Moses’s paintings were first discovered by art collector Louis Caldor in a drugstore window in Hoosick Falls, New York.

2. She produced over 1,500 paintings in her lifetime, many of which are now considered iconic representations of Americana.

3. Her painting “Sugaring Off” sold for $1.2 million in 2006.

4. Moses received two honorary doctoral degrees, one from Russell Sage College in 1949 and another from the Moore Institute of Art, Science, and Industry in 1951.

5. She was featured on the cover of Time magazine on December 28, 1953, becoming a national sensation.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Grandma Moses

1. “Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.”

2. “If I didn’t start painting, I would have raised chickens.”

3. “I look back on my life like a good day’s work. It was done and I feel satisfied with it.”

4. “I paint from the top down. Just put a line across the paper and that’s the horizon line. Then I think of what’s going to be in the picture and I go ahead and paint it.”

5. “Anyone can paint. All you have to do is take a little time, be able to see and think, and then put it down.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Grandma Moses’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million, adjusted for inflation.

Children

Grandma Moses had ten children, five of whom survived infancy. Her children included Forrest Moses, Hugh Moses, Perry Moses, Anna Moses, and Will Moses, some of whom helped manage her affairs and preserve her legacy.