From the time he was young, Al Rounds wanted to be an artist. He loved to draw, and became especially interested in the subject of architectural landscapes. The accuracy and historical significance he depicts in his work is remarkable. While studying at the University of Utah in 1977, his technique was influenced by English portrait master, Alvin Gittins, and watercolorist, George Dibble.
This specific painting is of a frame house that Joseph Smith built in 1842. In addition to serving as a residence for the Prophet and his family, it was also a hotel for important guests and a social center for the Saints in Nauvoo. The original residence-part of the home still stands and can be seen today.