Artwork
Autumn in the Mountains
Autumn in the Mountains is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Adrian Scott Stokes. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The composition presents a tranquil highland scene where distant peaks recede behind rolling hills, while the foreground is populated by grazing animals.
Created in 1903, *Autumn in the Mountains* is a tempera landscape by English painter Charles Adrian Scott Stokes. The composition presents a tranquil highland scene where distant peaks recede behind rolling hills, while the foreground is populated by grazing animals. The palette emphasizes the muted gold of leaf‑laden trees and the earthy tones of soil and rock, evoking a quiet seasonal transition.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a late‑autumn atmosphere, focusing on the interplay of light and color as foliage turns yellow and the ground becomes a patchwork of brown grass and stones. By placing livestock calmly at the scene’s edge, Stokes suggests a harmonious relationship between nature and rural life, underscoring the peaceful rhythm of the countryside during the harvest season.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting employs fine, layered brushwork that allows for precise detailing of foliage and terrain while maintaining the soft diffusion typical of Impressionist sensibilities. Stokes balances the medium’s matte finish with subtle tonal variations, achieving a luminous effect that conveys atmospheric depth without relying on glossy oil textures.
History & Provenance
Charles Adrian Scott Stokes, originally a cotton broker before turning to art, studied at the Royal Academy Schools from 1872 and began exhibiting there in 1876. *Autumn in the Mountains* entered the public domain through acquisition by Tate Britain, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection, representing the artist’s mature period within the British Impressionist movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Adrian Scott Stokes (23 December 1854 – 30 November 1935) was an English landscape painter.
