Vinton focused on the male portrait, capturing the professional elite of New England. His style is characterised by a balance of academic realism and a controlled use of light. Works such as his portraits of George Frisbie Hoar and Charles Devens demonstrate a preference for neutral backgrounds and a focus on the character of the sitter. He used a sober colour palette and precise brushwork to define form. This approach made him a preferred painter for the legal and medical circles of the nineteenth century.

Modern collectors value Vinton for his ability to convey authority and presence without unnecessary ornamentation. His paintings of figures like William Lambert Richardson or Andrew Preston Peabody offer a window into the intellectual history of the United States. The directness of his compositions allows these works to fit well in formal offices or traditional home libraries. His contribution to the American Realism movement remains a point of interest for those who appreciate technical mastery and historical portraiture.