Born in West Boxford, Massachusetts to a farm family, itinerant painter Rufus Porter has been described by folk-art historian Jean Lipman as America's "chief early mural painter and one of our outstanding native artists. . . .a mobile one-man factory for original portraiture and interior decoration" (149-150).

His landscape murals earned him wide attention, and from 1824 to 1845, he completed more than 150 murals, a combination of freehand and stencils. Placed over mantles and entire walls, his murals were especially appreciated because he did natural settings of local views instead of the traditional elaborate classical or historical scenes with enhanced decoration.

Because of his focus on regional scenes, he is credited as ...