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Autumn Landscape
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© The Artist’s Estate

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Autumn Landscape Dated September 1950
  • Scottish Art
This is one of several paintings Gear completed in the autumn of 1950. A similar but larger work also titled ‘Autumn Landscape’ was painted for the Festival of Britain show ‘Sixty Painters for ‘51’ in 1951. Although awarded the Arts Council purchase prize, it was denounced by the president of the Royal Academy, Sir Alfred Munnings, who deemed it as a “scheming, self-conscious, anglicised, fifty-year old repetition of the École de Paris”. This earlier version was one of the last paintings Gear completed before leaving Paris and returning to England. It shows the distillation of a biomorphic tree-like form in jagged shapes, with seasonal colouring and tonality of landscape. The colours and black, web-like lines are typical of Gear’s work from this period.

Glossary Open

Festival of Britain, 1951

A nationwide celebration of Britain’s history, achievements and culture intended to boost morale after the Second World War. It included an exhibition on London's South Bank for which a series of modernist buildings were built. The visual arts featured prominently, with works commissioned from many artists including Jacob Epstein, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Eduardo Paolozzi. The Royal Festival Hall survives from the event.

Royal Academy

An independent institution founded in 1768 with Sir Joshua Reynolds as its first president. It is governed by the Royal Academicians - leading painters, sculptors, printmakers and architects, which number no more than 80 at one time. It organises exhibitions at its London galleries, including an annual Summer Exhibition.

Festival of Britain, 1951, Royal Academy

Details

  • Acc. No. GMA 1301
  • Medium Oil on canvas
  • Size 100.30 x 73.00 cm
  • Credit Purchased 1974

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Scottish Art