Forest Oaks, Fontainebleau

Ernest Waterlow painted this tranquil forest scene at Fontainebleau in 1902, the same year he received his knighthood in King Edward VII's Coronation Honours. By this time, Waterlow was at the height of his career—he had been president of the Royal Watercolour Society since 1897 and would become a full Royal Academician the following year. The Forest of Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, had been a magnet for artists throughout the 19th century, attracting the Barbizon School painters who sought to capture nature with honesty and intimacy. Waterlow's choice of subject reflects his dedication to landscape painting, which had earned him the prestigious Turner medal back in 1873 as a young artist at the Royal Academy schools.

Waterlow's landscapes were known for being 'handled with grace and distinction,' and this depiction of ancient oaks exemplifies his mature style. Rather than dramatic or sublime scenery, Waterlow favored quieter, more contemplative views of nature. The Fontainebleau forest, with its venerable trees and dappled light, offered exactly the kind of subject that appealed to his sensibility. Working in both oil and watercolour throughout his career, Waterlow created 'a considerable number of admirable landscapes' that captured the subtle beauties of the natural world. This painting invites viewers to pause and appreciate the majesty of these enduring oaks, their gnarled trunks and spreading branches testament to centuries of growth.