Scottish-born William Keith began as a wood engraver in his hometown of Aberdeen, but upon arriving in California totally fell in love with the mountains and became the foremost San Francisco artist of the 19th century.

He was really good pals with John Muir, who was the same age and had also emigrated from Scotland. After Keith first visited Muir in Yosemite Valley with a letter of introduction from a mutual friend, the two men struck up a fast friendship that spanned the next 38 years. Their unabashed bromance often took the form of relentless criticism of each other’s work. Who needs enemies when you have a friend like John Muir?

This was especially true in the case of Keith’s romantic side, which led to a fair few imaginary mountain ranges and canyons cropping up in his paintings once the two were back at the studio. Muir, as a decidedly uptight naturalist, majorly disapproved of these embellishments and basically bullied Keith out of his Bob Ross tendencies.

William Keith’s legacy continues to this day-- Keith Avenue in Berkeley is named after him, Mount Keith was dedicated to him in July 1896, and San Francisco’s 1898 Mayor published a book of sonnets based on Keith’s paintings. St. Mary’s College of California owns a whopping 180 of William Keith’s paintings, which they exhibit twice a year.

This widespread fame was largely due to Keith’s strong personality and knack for business, which landed him the financially successful career that has so often eluded living artists.

Keith's grandiose landscapes brought nature to common folk during a time when wilderness adventure was only for a hardy few.

A close pal of John Muir, the two would trek into the wilds of California together to paint and study. 

They had what they called a 'tough friendship', a no-holds-barred kind of bromance where they'd dole out frank feedback and criticism on one another's work.

Keith's romantic streak led him to embellish his paintings once back in his studio, often adding mountain ranges, rivers, and canyons that hadn't been part of his observations. This drove Muir, the ever-observant naturalist, completely nuts.