One of the better known of the Hudson River School’s second generation, he was renowned for romantic landscapes and still lifes.
He was influenced by Thomas Cole and others of the first generation of the Hudson River’s School, Brown was also heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite's.
In 1850, he moved to Newark, New Jersey, and began specializing in landscape painting.
In 1858, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, and switched to painting still lifes.