As a mountain painter, Compton travelled to numerous countries to paint his landscapes, including Austria and the Vorarlberg region. A natural high-mountain lake, Zürser See is surrounded by the towering Wildgrubenspitze peak to the south and west. Compton’s motif is the view from the height of the calm lake, reflecting the soaring mountain range behind it. The idyllic vista is brought to life by the herd of cows, with the high-mountain scenery exuding an evocative sense of serenity. Having taught himself to identify different types of rock on his high mountain tours, Compton applied this knowledge to the structural representation of the mountains in this painting. The watercolor offered here stands out for its iridescent shades of gray which contrast the different rock formations. The detailed view, however, does not blind Compton to the big picture as he skillfully combines the chosen close-up and top views to convey, even in this small format, the powerful presence of the mountain world. [JG]