Theodore ROUSSEAU
French 1812–1867
Landscape with a clump of trees
oil on canvas
41.6 x 63.8 cm
Felton Bequest 1955
3260-4

Rousseau was a prominent member of the Barbizon school of French landscape artists, noted for their objective naturalistic approach to painting. Rousseau often completed his work out doors thus achieving the very specific effects of atmosphere and light that is the hallmark of his best work. In this painting, the contrast in colour of the sun bathed field and that in shadow is very accurately observed.

Rousseau painted a landscape that was very flat, but he gave the scene structure by including the clump of trees. The horizon line is also very low in the composition, which allows him to portray atmospheric effects in the sky. Human interest is maintained by including cattle grazing sedately and a resting figure seated beneath a tree. This calm interaction and clear sky makes for very tranquil and inviting scene.