American painter and printmaker Thomas Moran worked in the Hudson River School in New York. His paintings often featured the Rocky Mountains. Born in Colorado, Moran sought work in New York, where he gained much success as an artist. His paintings often depict mountains, prairies, and landscapes. These works are now part of museums and private collections. 

In the 1880s, Moran became apprenticed at Philadelphia engraving firm Scattergood & Telfer. However, after three years, he left the firm and worked in the studio of his brother Edward. He was inspired by the work of the marine painter James Hamilton, who was nicknamed "American Turner" by contemporaries. This may have been the source of Moran's interest in Turner art.

Thomas Moran had many mentors along the way, including his older brothers. He studied under James Hamilton, a celebrated painter who used Turner-like use of light and colour. His mentor, James Hamilton, helped Moran develop his artistic style and encouraged him to experiment with techniques and light. In the following years, he became a world-class artist, earning multiple awards and becoming one of the best-selling artists of the nineteenth century.

Besides his paintings, Moran also published a diary of his trip to Yellowstone. The painting inspired him so much that he named the stone "Yellowstone." The artists of the government survey were impressed with Moran's work. The two had the same visions and were inspired by John Ruskin. This collaboration helped him become the first American landscape painter. The artist's works are now used as examples in art history and as a benchmark in the field of American landscape painting.