Born in Paris, France in 1804, Victor de Grailly executed many paintings of American scenes, using William Henry Bartlett’s engravings in his book, American Scenery (London, 1840) as a source of inspiration for a subject he truly loved. It is believed that he came to the United States and visited the Hudson River, though this is difficult to confirm.

De Grailly studied under Victor Bertin, who gave him a neo-classical foundation for his landscapes. As de Grailly’s style developed, he adopted a more romantic approach, though the formal balance and traditional compositions of his neo-classical roots remained. He first exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1833 and continued to show his work there until late in his life.