Kensett, one of the leading American artists of the 1850s, trained as an engraver before studying painting in Europe. Deeply attracted to the landscapes of New York and New England, he frequently depicted famous scenery, such as this view of Vermont’s Green Mountains from the New York shore of Lake Champlain. The picturesque conjunction of the undulating mountain range and New England’s largest lake accounted for its popularity with artists and tourists alike.