Gentle Waters, Silent Hills by Aaron Allan Edson is an 8 x 10.25 inch watercolour on paper that is protected by museum glass and signed in the bottom right. The piece was produced circa 1880 and was on display at Thielsen Galleries in London, Ontario before becoming part of the Rookleys collection. It depicts a somber landscape, the sky dominated by storm clouds, casting shadow over the surrounding brush. Edson uses a limited palette of green and grey to create a subdued atmosphere in this painting, perfectly capturing the feeling of the calm before the storm. A shallow stream trickles through the foreground, dotted with tiny stones. A small patch of wild flowers along the shore is the only hint of colour in the otherwise monotone scene.

Aaron Allan Edson was a seminal figure in 19th century Canadian landscape painting. His evocative painting of the natural world earned him international recognition.