Evening, Storm Clearing Off 1818 - 1819

John Linnell composed "Evening, Storm Clearing Off" with oils to evoke the serene drama of nature's elements in transition. A flat landscape is divided horizontally into three registers: the darkly vegetated land, the luminous sky, and the gathering clouds overhead. Linnell uses color to powerful effect here. The warm, almost iridescent hues of the clearing sky contrast with the cool, subdued tones of the land, while the storm clouds above add depth through layered brushstrokes. The composition follows a classical structure, yet the brushwork adds a textural and immediate quality. The painting functions as a study in contrasts, not only in color and tone, but also in atmosphere and form. It is a dynamic interpretation of nature's transient states, captured with remarkable skill.