All 42 of Minerva Teichert’s Book of Mormon Paintings
Minerva Teichert stood as one of the select Western women in the early 20th century who underwent formal artistic training at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York City. During her time in the bustling streets of New York, her mentor & instructor, the American artist Robert Henri, urged her to paint the "Mormon story." Fearlessly, she embraced this charge, embarking on the ambitious endeavor of illustrating numerous scenes from Mormon history while shouldering the responsibility of visually capturing the essence of the Book of Mormon.
Within the walls of the BYU Museum of Art, the complete ensemble of 42 murals from Teichert's Book of Mormon series, alongside a handful of other paintings delving into Book of Mormon themes, is own display. In the span from 1949 to 1951, she committed herself wholeheartedly to this undertaking, labeling it as the "most profound joy and simultaneously the most formidable challenge I ever intend to undertake." Minerva Teichert's murals unfurl a gripping overview of the Book of Mormon's narrative. She manages to encapsulate the human facets and the emotional depth of tales featuring revered scriptural figures such as Nephi, Sariah, Alma, and Captain Moroni. Through her visual renditions, we are afforded the privilege of beholding the Book of Mormon from an entirely renewed perspective.
