Autumn at Stourhead
Summary
A tranquil painting of the Stourhead estate near Mere in Wiltshire, looking across an open garden towards the Pantheon, a small neo-classical temple on the edge of the lake, on the eve of World War II. The view is framed by bare trees on either side. The foreground is in darkness and the Bristol Cross monument in the gardens is on the left. Textured marks contribute to the overall effect of the picture, which is especially evident in the bravura style featured in the middle background. Various techniques are used which are reminiscent of modernist practice such as creating flat planes of colour, as well as including elements resembling collage. The gardens at Stourhead were inspired by the works of the great European landscape artists. Many British artists were in turn inspired to paint on the estate including Turner and Constable. The diverse landscape of Gothic and Classical styles in one view appealed to Piper.
Object Name
Autumn at Stourhead
Creators Name
Date Created
1939
Dimensions
unframed: 63.3cm x 76.2cm
framed: 82.6cm x 95.4cm
accession number
1948.331
Place of creation
England
Support
board
Medium
oil paint
Credit
Presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 1948
Legal
© Manchester Art Gallery