Thomas Moran Biography and Artwork

Thomas Moran was a highly acclaimed North-American painter during the 19th century. Born in Bolton, England, he was considered part of the second generation of great US landscape painters. He contributed significantly to the Hudson River School and the Rocky Mountain School. His vision of the Western landscape helped create Yellowstone National Park.

Moran’s artistic career began when he became an apprentice to a Philadelphia wood-engraving firm at a young age. He eventually started painting watercolors and landscapes and gained fame for his depictions of nature’s beauty. Moran’s originality allowed him to shift public consciousness towards important national identities like America’s wilderness through art.

One of his most famous paintings is “The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,” which depicts a vibrant and colorful interpretation of what many considered to be one of America’s greatest natural treasures. Having garnered praise from critics as well as artists such as Edgar Degas, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Gilbert Stuart; Moran remains one of the most influential figures in American art history until now.

All Thomas Moran Artwork on Artchive