A Scottish Soul in the California Landscape William Keith, born November 18, 1838, in Melrose, Scotland, was an artist whose life became inextricably linked with the dramatic beauty of the American West. His story is one of migration, artistic evolution, and a deep spiritual connection to the natural world—a connection that would define his entire oeuvre. The family’s move to New York City in 1850, following his father's untimely death, initiated a new chapter, where young William initially honed his observational skills as a wood engraver – a craft that instilled within him an understanding…