N.A. Moore, though sharing the feeling and impetus of his contemporaries, felt no need to travel vast distances in search of evermore grandiose, spectacular vistas. He took a particular delight in the peaceful harmony of the local American countryside. Exploring the myriad seasons and moods of his native New England, he celebrated the understated, humble charm of his own back yard. A member of the Hudson River School at heart, Moore remained untouched by its more dramatic interpretations, crafting instead works that were local, personal, honest American, and humble.

He was born August 2, 1824, at Kensington (Conn.), studied under Thomas Cummings and Daniel Huntington in NYC and spent most of his life in Kensington. In his later year...