"BROTHER BRIGHAM'S HERE"
LDS Church President/Governor Brigham Young Arrives at
Cove Fort on a Trip to St George, Utah Territory, 1877
by Artist Frank M. Thomas
Original 50"x 83" Acrylic/Canvas Painting - Part of the artist's personal collection, Holden, Utah
(Currently being exhibited at the Cove Fort Historical Site, Cove Fort, Utah.)
Historical Background:
n 1867, Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also Governor of the Utah Territory, made a special calling to Ira Hinckley, of Coalville. He was directed to proceed to the Cove Creek Valley in central Utah (Millard County) and there build a fort suitable to provide safety and comfort to travelers along the corridor from Salt Lake City to the southern Mormon settlements. With the assistance of many skilled volunteers called from the surrounding settlements, Ira was able to accomplish this enormous task within a few months and move his family south to occupy the lava stone fort. Ira was the grandfather of our late LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. For the next twenty years the Hinckley family served the traveling public providing rooms and meals, and as well, feeding the many Ute Indians who approached the front gates.
Click on photo above for larger image
Two stage coaches of the Gilmer & Salisbury Stage Lines stopped at Cove Fort each day, one from the north and one from the south on what was called the "Salt Lake-St George stage line." A stage office was maintained in conjunction with the post office in a room next to the telegraph office, at the southeast corner of the fort. As fresh horses were being hitched-up to the coach (depicted in the painting), passengers were fed a warm meal prepared in the Hinckley Family kitchen. This painting shows President Brigham Young's late Spring arrival on his last trip to St George, for he died a few months later, in August 1877. He is portrayed being greeted by Ira Hinckley.
The last three directing elders (2002-2006) are portrayed working with the horses (Elders Carl Madsen and Lynn Haskell) and as the stage driver (Elder Tom Nelson). David Christiansen (Fillmore), LDS Church Facilities Director, is seen standing by the coach and communicating with the driver. The artist, Frank Thomas, is shown helping his wife, Patreecia, down from the stage coach. Gaye Christiansen (Fillmore) is painted holding on to the artist's grandson Christian Vargas.
Canvas Art Print Offerings:
15" x 25" (signed by artist/rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$136.00
tube shipped.......................+$11.50
15" x 25" (signed by artist/stretched - ready to frame)......................$161.00
flat package shipped.............+$16.50
24" x 40" (signed by artist/rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$297.00
tube shipped........................+$13.25
32" x 53" (signed by artist/rolled only - ready to stretch)...................$577.50
tube shipped.........................+$14.50
32" x 40" (signed by artist/rolled only - ready to stretch)...................$429.00
tube shipped.........................+$14.50
40" x 66" (signed by artist/rolled only - ready to stretch....................$775.50
tube shipped.........................+$18.50
(NOTE: The rolled print may be stretched in most frame shops before framing.)
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Lithographic [Art Paper] Print Offering:
12" x 20" (signed and numbered by artist - ready to mat and frame)......................$47.00
Plastic wrapped/flat package - shipped.............$13.50
*Please note*: Artist Frank Thomas' studio lithographic art print and giclee' canvas art print sales have now been resumed as of November 1st, 2008. He and his wife, Patreecia, have completed an eighteen month mission in the Ohio-Cleveland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the Kirtland Historic Village Sites, Kirtland, Ohio. He was asked by LDS Church General Authorities to paint early Church history scenes of 1830's Kirtland.
He has now returned home to his art studio at 206 North 100 East, Holden, Utah 84636 and is producing LDS historical paintings and Old West paintings at that site. His art prints may be purchased online by credit card or by personal check.
Call Frank at his Studio" (435) 795-2206 or (435) 406-9526, or contact directly by email wildgoose@crystalpeaks.com.