Inness visited popular summer destinations like the Berkshires throughout his career, gathering raw material for his paintings. Although he studied nature closely, his goal was rarely to depict a precise location but rather to depict "nature, rendered grand," emphasizing conceptual ideals more than realistic description. When once asked where a picture was painted, Inness responded, "Nowhere in particular; do you suppose I illustrate guide books?" In his early career Inness often adopted compositional formulas inspired particularly by the French artist Claude Lorrain (1604-1682), while his later paintings increasingly reflected the spiritualist ideology of the Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772).

A Bit of the Roman Aqueduct, 1852-53
Oil on canvas, 39 x 53 9/16 inches
High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Purchase with funds from the Members Guild and through exchange