Charles Gruppe was already a celebrity artist, patronized by European royalty and represented in many museums in Europe and America, when he arrived
in Rockport at the age of 65. His Cape Ann works represent a slight softening in form from his detailed ship and harbor scenes of Europe, for which he had become famous. His palette also seemed to become a bit brighter, possibly the influence of painting regularly with his son Emile Gruppe, whose style was
becoming a bit more Impressionistic.