Thomas Moran, Minerva Terrace

Thomas Moran (1837-1926) was a prolific illustrator and landscape painter whose legacy can still be felt in Yellowstone today. Born in England, his family emigrated to Philadelphia when he was a child. After an apprenticeship with the woodcutting firm Scattergood & Telfer, Moran went to work in his older brother’s studio where he began painting. He studied the works of J.M.W Turner extensively, whose work proved to be a powerful influence on Moran’s own style. He later joined Scribner’s Monthly Magazine where he worked as an illustrator, eventually rising to the position of Chief Illustrator. It was at Scribner’s that Moran first became intrigued by Yellowstone, when he was asked to rework sketches made by a member of an earlier expedition party.

Moran was invited to join the Hayden Expedition exploring the area of Northwestern Wyoming which would later become Yellowstone. His trip was funded by both Scribner’s and Jay Cooke, the financier behind the Northern Pacific Railway, who was already considering the possibilities for tourism to the area and relied heavily on artwork for advertisements. Moran developed a strong bond with William Henry Jackson, the photographer on the expedition, and they worked closely to create images that would provide a visual record of their journey. Moran’s paintings brought the wonders of Yellowstone to life in color, and together their images put an end to the skepticism and disbelief that was typically shown in reaction to previous accounts of Yellowstone’s natural features. The works of art produced by Moran and Jackson as a result of the Hayden expedition played a pivotal role in encouraging Congress to designate Yellowstone as a protected area and the world’s first National Park.

Original Artist: Thomas Moran

Year Published: 1872

Poster Size: 20in x 28in

Price Per Print: $42