A Poet of the American Landscape: The Life and Art of John Francis Murphy John Francis Murphy, born in Oswego, New York, in 1853, emerged as a pivotal figure in American landscape painting during a period of profound artistic transition. His name is inextricably linked with Tonalism, yet to define his work solely by this movement would be to diminish the subtle evolution and quiet innovation that characterized his career. Murphy’s journey began not amidst palettes and easels, but as a sign painter in Chicago – a practical trade that ultimately proved unsatisfying for a spirit yearning for mo…