William Trost Richards – Lago Avernus Metropolitan Museum: part 3

The composition presents a panoramic vista dominated by a large body of water nestled within a landscape of rolling hills and dense vegetation. The artist has employed a muted palette, primarily utilizing shades of grey, blue, and green, which contributes to the overall atmosphere of tranquility and subdued grandeur. A band of dark foliage occupies the foreground, punctuated by several tall, slender trees with characteristic umbrella-shaped crowns; these act as visual anchors, drawing the eye into the scene.
The water itself is rendered with subtle variations in tone, suggesting both depth and a gentle ripple across its surface. Distant hills rise on either side of the lake, their forms softened by atmospheric perspective, creating a sense of vastness and receding space. A faint suggestion of human presence appears near the shoreline – small figures are discernible amidst the trees, hinting at a connection between humanity and this natural setting.
The light source seems to originate from behind the viewer, casting long shadows across the foreground vegetation and illuminating the upper slopes of the hills. This creates a sense of depth and three-dimensionality within the landscape. The sky is overcast, contributing to the painting’s melancholic mood.
Subtly, theres an implication of historical or mythological significance. The stillness of the water, combined with the ancient-looking topography, evokes a feeling of timelessness and perhaps even a sense of forgotten narratives. The small figures suggest human interaction with this place, but their scale emphasizes the dominance of nature over human endeavors. It is possible to interpret the scene as an exploration of the sublime – that is, the awe-inspiring power and beauty of nature capable of evoking both pleasure and a degree of apprehension.