Lorus Pratt

Lorus Pratt was born in Salt Lake City in 1855. Lorus studied art at the University of Deseret under Dan Weggeland and George M. Ottinger. Upon completing his studies in Utah Lorus attended school in New York and Philadelphia.

Lorus served Latter-day Saint missions in Pennsylvania and Missouri, and then proceeded to move to Europe where he attended the Académie Julian on a two-year art scholarship. After returning to the United States, Lorus painted painted murals and frescos for multiple LDS Temples in Utah. Additionally, Lorus was an English professor at the University of Utah.          

Lorus Pratt is best known for his religious art and landscapes. Most of Lorus’ paintings deal with agriculture and the development of farmland in Salt Lake and Cache counties. He did, however, paint a few portraits in addition to his landscapes.