maurice grosser (october 23, 1903 – december 22, 1986) was an american painter, art critic, and writer. he was the longtime companion of virgil thomson. maurice grosser was born on october 23, 1903, in huntsville, alabama. he designed the scenery for two operas by virgil thomson: "four saints in three acts" (1934) and "the mother of us all" (1947). grosser died on december 22, 1986, in manhattan.