Noted as a portrait and landscape artist, James M. Dennis was born in Dublin, Indiana in 1840. At 18 years of age he left home to begin his art education in Cincinnati, Ohio. While there he befriended Alexander Wyant, who went on to become a famous landscape artist noted for his tonalist style, and also studied with the portrait painter Joseph O. Eaton.

1865 found James Dennis in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the company of Jacob Cox and Barton S. Hays where he successfully established a studio in portrait and landscape work. Seeking to renew old friendships and also further his studies, the artist left Indianapolis for a brief period in 1873 for New York City and the company of Eaton and Wyant. While Dennis had always attempted to imita...