Thomas Moran Paintings

Thomas Moran (February 12, 1837 – August 25, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker of the Hudson River School in New York. Moran shared a studio with his younger brother, Edward Moran, who was a marine artist. Thomas was an illustrator at Scribner’s Monthly and during the late 1860s the chief illustrator. This position helped launch his career as one of the exploration painters of the American West. Moran was a well-known admire of J.M. W Turner, a British artist, whom was Moran’s inspiration in use of color. In 1871, Thomas accompanied a few other artist in exploring the Yellowstone region. Along with a few other artist, Moran is sometimes referred to as a member of the Rocky Mountain School of Landscape painters due to the number of landscapes created. His sketches along with survey member Jackson’s photographs gained the nation’s attention and inspired the establishment of the first national park. Thomas even adopted a new signature: TYM, Thomas Yellowstone Moran. In 1884, he was elected to the membership of the National Academy of Design. One of Moran’s paintings, The Three Tetons, is currently part of the White House collection and was pictured hanging in the White House alongside the portrait of General George Washington.