Early Autumn, Montclair is an oil on canvas painting by George Inness created in 1888. Measuring at 30 x 45 inches, the painting was purchased by the Delaware Art Museum with funds provided by Dr. Arthur Hunter in memory of Ethel Parsons Hunter and The Valley Foundation and Acquisition Fund. Inness, a prominent American landscape painter, was regarded as a grand master of late 19th-century painting.
Inness was inspired by the natural beauty of Montclair where he resided from 1885 to 1894. He drew inspiration from Old Masters, the Hudson River school, the Barbizon school and Swedenborg’s theology of spiritualism which found its way into his work. This can be seen in his consistent efforts to depict emotion, mood and atmosphere which earned him high praise for his work.
Overall, “Early Autumn, Montclair” depicts a peaceful landscape with warm colors that evoke feelings of serenity and calmness amidst its autumnal theme that captures the beauty of changing seasons through art. Its intricate details show off how much thought and effort went into creating such an exceptional piece that has stood the test of time as one of Inness’s finest artworks today.
