Thomas Moran (1837-1926)
Though born in England, Thomas Moran became one of America's greatest landscape artists. At age 15, he found work in an engraver's shop, where his talent first attracted attention. Moran was inspired by dramatic colors and light effects of English artist J.M.W. Turner's paintings, and would later be called "the American Turner."

In 1871, Moran traveled westward with the U.S. Geological Survey of the Territories. He made many sketches of the Western landscape, especially the fantastic scenes of Yellowstone. These images, along with photographs by William Henry Jackson, helped persuade Congress to create America's first national park. Congress also purchased two of Moran's panoramic paintings to hang in the Capitol.

Moran worked hard at his art, averaging 13 hours a day, usually on paintings of Western landscapes. He felt strongly that American artists should paint American landscapes. "There is little need," he said, "of American landscape painters going abroad in search of the grand, the sublime, and the beautiful. There is no phase of landscape in which we are not richer, more varied and interesting than any country in the world."

Learn more about Moran and his paintings in our Go West, Young Artist ArtEdventure!

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