Dextersis

$(
			function(){

				// Get all of the gradient images and loop
				// over them using jQuery implicit iteration.
				$( "img.gradient" ).each(
					function( intIndex ){
						var jImg = $( this );
						var jParent = null;
						var jDiv = null;
						var intStep = 0;

						// Get the parent
						jParent = jImg.parent();

						// Make sure the parent is position
						// relatively so that the graident steps
						// can be positioned absolutely within it.
						jParent
							.css( "position", "relative" )
							.width( jImg.width() )
							.height( jImg.height() )
						;

						// Create the gradient elements. Here, we
						// are hard-coding the number of steps,
						// but this could be abstracted out.
						for (
							intStep = 0 ;
							intStep <= 20 ;
							intStep++
							){

							// Create a fade level.
							jDiv = $( "<div></div>" );

							// Set the properties on the fade level.
							jDiv
								.css (
									{
										backgroundColor: "#FFFFFF",
										opacity: (intStep * 5 / 100),
										bottom: ((100 - (intStep * 5) ) + "px"),
										left: "0px",
										position: "absolute"
									}
									)
								.width( jImg.width() )
								.height( 5 )
							;

							// Add the fade level to the
							// containing parent.
							jParent.append( jDiv );

						}

					}
					);

			}
			);

<img src="" width="545" height="386" alt="" class="gradient"/>