Jasper Francis Cropsey was a prolific and leading member of the Hudson River School, with around 2,500 paintings to his name. Cropsey was trained at the Mechanic’s Institute in Manhattan and was running his own architecture firm when he decided to pursue a career in painting; architecture did become a lasting influence in his work, noted most strongly in his spatial sensitivity and use of outline. Cropsey was known for his autumnal landscapes and vivid colors. Many of these were made from drawings and sketches he made during his travels, replete with notes on color. After the Civil War, Cropsey also became interested in Luminism and watercolor. He believed the highest goal of art was to “portray God in nature,” and continued to work near the very end of his life.