After a Storm

After a Storm at Royal Holloway depicts the aftermath of a storm, when the sea remains agitated but the sky begins to clear. Such subjects allowed Stanfield to demonstrate his understanding of the sea’s transitional moods and the way light returns after a tempest, creating some of his most atmospheric compositions. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays dramatic atmospheric effects, precise marine detail derived from his seafaring experience, theatrical compositions informed by years as a scene painter at Drury Lane.

The post-storm light creates complex atmospheric effects as sunshine breaks through remaining clouds. Stanfield renders the still-disturbed sea surface with attention to the patterns of wind-driven waves subsiding into calmer swells.