As The Sun Goes Down
There’s something about the glow of the setting sun that makes us want to capture the moment. Just before it dips below the horizon it’s almost guaranteed that we’ll feel the itch in our fingertips to grab our phones and snap a picture of the last few minutes of the day. Creative interpretations of sunsets sometimes seem to be the backbone of our catalogue here in the Sulis Studio, and at times we feel inundated with paintings from artists over the past centuries who have feverishly captured the peaceful moments of dusk, twilight and sunset. It shows, in some ways, how little we’ve changed. Despite now being able to capture those soft pink hues and blazing oranges swiftly on our iPhones, I’d like to think that we still look at sunsets with the same amazement as Turner did when sitting down to paint in the early 19th century. With that in mind, here’s a selection of some of our favourite sunset scenes from our collection. Enjoy!
We can only imagine how spectacular this sunset would have been to look at in person, but this artist does a pretty good job at capturing the moment in this flurry on pinks and orange.
John Heseltine (1923-2016) - 20th Century Oil, Fishing Boat at Sunset
The simplicity of this quick oil study is what gives the landscape charm.
John Brown (1887-1966) - Mid 20th Century Oil, Sunset Over the Farmstead
The yellows, browns and oranges in this striking abstract study capture some of our favourite sunset tones.
Kanwaldeep Singh Kang (1964-2007) - 20th Century Oil, Sunflower In The Window
We love how the artist accentuates the bold shape of the mountains in this early 19th Century oil. The setting sun on the horizon only adds to the drama of the scene, giving this romantic landscape a touch of the sublime.
Departing Day is an apt title for this wonderful view. It’s as if the sun is saying goodbye to the mountains as it brushes its peaks before disappearing on the horizon. How romantic!
Vibrant and expressive, Richard J.S Young certainly knows how to capture a dramatic red sky.
We couldn’t resist putting in a sunset picture of our own. Here’s the glorious pink sky over our home city of Bath!
This expressive piece by Jo Burns perfectly captures the feel of watching the setting sun from the train window as you whiz through the countryside. Both atmospheric and energetic, this piece has quickly become a studio favourite.
We really like how this artist has chosen to bring out the cooler colours of this sunset. The deep shadows of the mountains and purple palette make for a dramatic landscape.
The relaxed tone of this landscape oozes through in the artists’ gestural brushwork. The sunset colours glaze over the French landscape and produce a warm, calm scene.
Sheila Macmillan (1928-2018) - 2006 Oil, Near Residence De L'Oru
These satisfyingly uniform haystacks are a lovely reminder that the hard work of the day is over. Now it’s time to just enjoy the view.
It might not exactly be a sunset, but no one can deny that this artist was certainly inspired by one with these lovely pastel colours.
The subtle hints of the setting sun can be seen on the reflections of the lake in this stylish Scandinavian landscape. Sometimes less is more!
Harvest sunsets often feel that bit more special as autumn draws closer. In this charming scene the September fields reflect the warmth of the evening sky.
