Untitled (New England Landscape)

While the exact location depicted is unknown, the setting is likely rural New England. Three boys escape the heat of a summer afternoon by availing themselves of a nearby pond.

Relatively little is known of George Cass’s personal or artistic life. He was a student of American master George Inness and likewise became known for his landscape painting. He exhibited at the Boston Athenaeum in 1863 and 1865 and at the National Academy of Design in 1867.

The influence of Inness, which is evident in the print of Cass’s signature, the handling of his figures, and the airy brushstrokes of his foliage.