From the river bank, the water is a shining expanse leading to a hazy blue hill. A pale clouded sky is reflected in the waters of the river Tuy. As Millais intended, the autumn leaves are prompt to reflection.Ĭhill October‘s title evokes the weather and mood, infused in the landscape. The falling leaves are a sign of the change of seasons, and the passing of time. The smallest girl in front wears blue, her hair out and scruffy, and eats an apple. One is dressed in a russet dress, her hair pulled back, holding a rake. They look less striking, compared to the other two. The other smaller two girls gaze reflectively into the leaves. One holds a basket, used to hold the leaves and add them to the pile. Both wear their dark, thick hair falling over their shoulders. The two on the left look solemnly at the viewer, dressed in sumptuous dark green gowns. Millais intended the picture not to have a narrative, but “to awaken by its solemnity the deepest religious reflection.” Accordingly, the young girls’ manner and dress are fitting for a church service. In parallel, Millais paints an earthy pagan version of the yearly ritual, with his leafy altar. Congregations gather a bounty of produce. Millais creates an illusion of great height and mass by painting the leaves in a triangular composition.Įvery October, harvest festivals are held in churches. Simultaneously, they rise up and tumble down from their momentous tower. Millais paints a whole variety of leaves, of all shapes and colors, layer upon layer. The warm smoke emanates through the cold evening air. The leaves rustle and whisper, papery but damp. Their rosy cheeks match the leaves beneath them. The sun sets out of sight, shining on the faces of the girls. Tall slim trees and a few drifting clouds are silhouetted against the brilliantly lit yellow and orange sky. The garden behind is dark, shadowy, and indistinct. They are building a bonfire, from which grey plumes of smoke are beginning to rise. John Everett Millais, Autumn Leaves, 1855, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, UK.įour young girls gather autumn leaves, piling them in a cascading pyramid.
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