John McLennan (1827–1865): A Visionary of Victorian Landscape John McLennan, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, emerged as a prominent figure in the burgeoning American West landscape movement during the Victorian era. His artistic journey began with formal training at the Royal Scottish Academy, where he honed his skills in drawing and painting before embarking on independent explorations of artistic expression. Though overshadowed by contemporaries like Albert Pinkham Ryder and Frederic Church, McLennan’s distinctive style—characterized by meticulous detail and a profound sensitivity to tonal va…