The American landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church (1832-1916) was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He was a member of the Hudson River School of American landscape painters. He is most well-known for his paintings of large landscapes featuring waterfalls, mountains, and sunsets. In addition to displaying his own unique view of the world, Church's paintings are renowned for their beauty. 

While a student of Cole, Church developed a great eye for drawing and landscapes. He traveled throughout New England and the Northeast to sketch his subjects. His favorite places to paint were East Hampton, Catskill Mountain House, and the Berkshires. He visited cities such as New Haven, Boston, and Vermont to complete sketches. His first recorded sale was in 1836 at Hartford's Wadworth Atheneum, where he was exhibited alongside the work of other notable American artists. His first major oil painting, a partial view of the Al-Khazneh Temple in Jordan, was sold in 1846 to Hartford's Wadworth Atheneam.

A young Church was inspired by his father's art. He was a self-taught architect and landscape designer, and his paintings reflected the beliefs that built America. During his time, people of the time felt that they were searching for "the American dream," and Frederic Church's canvases exemplified everything that was beautiful and glorious in the "New World." Although his works were somewhat out of favor, they are now considered part of the "Great American Story."