This article focused on an early Brown work "Grindelwald Valley," whose subject of majestic soaring mountains in the Swiss Alps was, in the reviewer's opinion, an audacious one for Brown. In this critic's view, Brown's treatment of such a grand subject as mere sketch had the “unpardonable defect of being thinly painted.” A little over five years later, another Atlantic Monthly review concluded that in the autumn landscape "On the Artichoke, West Newbury," Brown's treatment of clouds reflected in water was appropriately not belabored in its detail: "Though done with one sweep of the brush, it would be hard to conceive how any subsequent caressing or tinkering could add an iota to their tender and evanescent loveliness."
This article examined an early Brown work titled "Grindelwald Valley," whose subject of majestic Swiss Alps mountains was considered audacious by the reviewer. According to this critic, Brown's treatment of such a grand theme as mere sketching had the “unforgivable flaw of being superficial.” Five years later, another Atlantic Monthly review concluded that in the autumn landscape "On the Artichoke, West Newbury," Brown’s depiction of clouds reflecting in water was appropriately not overanalyzed: "Though captured with one stroke of the brush, it would be hard to imagine how any further embellishment could enhance its delicate and fleeting beauty."