Walter Launt Palmer was born in Albany, New York, in 1854, the son of sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer. Surrounded by art from an early age, he began studying painting as a teenager with portraitist Charles Elliott. Through his father's connection with Frederic Edwin Church, Palmer secured a coveted spot as a student of the renowned landscape painter. He later traveled through Italy and France, eventually studying in Paris with Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran, who emphasized the importance of tonal control. Palmer also absorbed influences from the French Impressionists and fellow American artists abroad, including John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase.
Throughout his career, Palmer earned numerous honors, including the Hallgarten Prize from the National Academy of Design, and awards from the Philadelphia and Boston Art Clubs. In 1921, the Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased his painting Sunlight, affirming his stature in American art. Best known for his luminous snow scenes, Palmer died in Albany on April 16, 1932, at age 78. His work remains celebrated for its delicate handling of light, color, and atmosphere.