Sulphur Mt., Yellowstone

Art Historical Context

Thomas Moran's *Sulphur Mt., Yellowstone* (2) is a striking drawing that captures the raw majesty of Yellowstone National Park's geothermal wonders. As a leading figure in the Hudson River School, was renowned for his luminous landscapes that romanticized America's wilderness. This work, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection (gift of Dr. William Henry), depicts Sulphur Mountain in Wyoming's Rocky Mountains, evoking the park's steaming vents and dramatic terrain. Moran's deep connection to Yellowstone stemmed from his participation in the 1871 Hayden Geological Survey, whe...

About the Artist

Thomas Moran · 1837–1926

Thomas Moran (1837–1926) was an American painter and printmaker of the Hudson River School whose dramatic paintings of the American West played a pivotal role in the creation of the national parks. Born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, he emigrated with his family to Philadelphia as a child. He was largely self-taught, though he apprenticed briefly with a wood engraver and studied the work of J.M.W...