The artist pays particular attention to the exposed root structure, which is zoomorphically drawn to suggest a monstrous open mouth. Farm buildings are shown behind. Fallen trees were a favourite foreground motif in the landscapes of those seventeenth century Dutch artists Gainsborough most admired. A similar tree is used in his work 'Wooded River Landscape' of 1754-56.

Provenance

Margaret Gainsborough; ... ; Stanhope Shelton; private collection; Christie's 2000; Andrew Wyld; Agnew's