Autumn Landscape with a View of Het Steen (c.1635) by Peter Paul Rubens

“Autumn Landscape with a View of Het Steen” is a notable artwork by Peter Paul Rubens, dating circa 1635. It is an oil painting on panel, showcasing the artist’s Baroque style. The artwork measures 137 x 235 cm and belongs to the landscape genre. It currently resides in the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom.

The artwork is a rich and vibrant portrayal of the countryside during autumn. It masterfully captures the essence of the season with a warm color palette that includes golden hues, deep reds, and greens that are starting to fade. The expansive scene is dominated by a vast sky that occupies the upper half of the canvas, filled with swirling clouds that catch the light of the setting sun.

In the foreground, there are several figures and animals that offer a glimpse of rural life. To the left, a noble building, possibly Het Steen itself, rises among the trees. In the middle distance, fields and trees are interspersed with small groups of people and livestock, giving the sense of a prosperous and active estate.

Rubens’s keen eye for detail is evident throughout the painting, from the intricate rendering of the leaves and branches of the trees to the delicate depiction of the rural figures and their surroundings. The distant horizon fades into a soft blue haze, enhancing the sense of depth and vastness of the landscape. Different elements of the scene, such as the winding river, the cultivated fields, and pockets of woodland, come together harmoniously, reflecting Rubens’s skill in composing a well-balanced and dynamic landscape.