John Constable

NAME John Constable

WHAT FAMOUS FOR John Constable is renowned for his English landscape paintings that beautifully capture the pastoral scenes of Suffolk and Hampstead Heath. His works like The Hay Wain and Flatford Mill are celebrated for their realism and depiction of the English countryside's beauty.

BIRTH John Constable was born on June 11, 1776, in East Bergholt, a village on the River Stour in Suffolk, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND He was the son of Golding Constable, a successful corn merchant who owned several windmills and watermills. Constable's family background was relatively affluent, which allowed him some support in pursuing his artistic career.

CHILDHOOD Constable grew up in East Bergholt, close to the natural landscapes that would later inspire his art. He was introduced to the workings of mills and the life of a miller, which influenced his deep connection to rural scenery.

EDUCATION John Constable's early education involved a brief stint at a private school in Lavenham, Suffolk, followed by enrollment at Dedham Grammar School in Essex. After completing his schooling, he initially assisted his father in the family's corn business. However, his burgeoning passion for art led him to pursue formal artistic training.

In 1799, at the age of 22, Constable convinced his father to allow him to study art professionally. He joined the Royal Academy Schools in London as a probationer. During his nearly 10-year tenure at the Royal Academy, Constable immersed himself in life drawing classes, anatomical dissections, and the study of Old Master paintings. He also frequently returned to his native Suffolk countryside to sketch and observe nature firsthand.

The Royal Academy provided Constable with a solid foundation in classical artistic techniques and exposed him to influential artists. While he absorbed these traditional elements, he ultimately developed a unique style that celebrated the direct observation of nature and the ever-changing Suffolk landscape.

CAREER RECORD Constable began by working in his father’s mill, later receiving financial support from his father to study at the Royal Academy.

Early 1800s: Began painting landscapes, focusing on the Stour Valley.   

1819: Exhibited The White Horse at the Royal Academy.   

1821: Exhibited The Hay Wain at the Royal Academy, which gained international recognition.

1820s-1830s: Produced many of his most famous works, including The Cornfield, The Leaping Horse, and Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows.

APPEARANCE The portrait below shows a young Constable with a serious expression and a hint of a receding hairline.

John Constable by Daniel Gardner, 1796 by Stephencdickson

Constable's only known self-portrait, created in 1806, is a pencil drawing that now resides in the Tate Gallery in London.

FASHION : As the son of a wealthy corn merchant, Constable would likely have dressed in a manner befitting his social class, which means he probably wore well-made, fashionable clothing of the period.

As a landscape painter who often worked outdoors, Constable may have dressed practically for his work, possibly wearing clothes suitable for outdoor activities.

CHARACTER Constable was known for his dedication and passion for landscape painting, as well as his stubbornness, especially in pursuing his career against his father’s wishes. He was a complex individual who was deeply committed to his art, emotionally sensitive, and somewhat conflicted between his artistic vision and the desire for recognition.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Though not widely documented, Constable’s lightheartedness is reflected in his bright, lively landscapes, which some contemporaries saw as expressions of a gentle sense of humor.

RELATIONSHIPS John Constable's love story with his childhood friend Maria Bicknell was a passionate yet challenging one. They fell in love in 1809, but Maria's family, particularly her solicitor father, initially disapproved of the match, deeming Constable financially unsuitable. However after the death of Constable's parents he inherited a fifth share in the family business and Maria's father finally gave his consent to the marriage.

They wed on October 2, 1816 at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Constable and Maria went on a honeymoon tour of the south coast in October 1816, visiting Weymouth and Brighton. This trip to the seaside stimulated Constable to develop new techniques of brilliant color and vivacious brushwork.

Their marriage was a source of great happiness for Constable. However, Maria's health was fragile. During their 12-year marriage, she was continually pregnant, giving birth to seven children plus one miscarriage. Maria tragically passed away in 1829 at the age of 40, succumbing to consumption (tuberculosis). Her death deeply affected Constable, who wrote to his brother that "hourly do I feel the loss of my departed Angel." The devastating loss left a lasting impact on his life and art.

Maria Bicknell, painted by Constable in 1816. Tate Britain.

MONEY AND FAME Constable, despite his significant influence on French artists like Delacroix, struggled to gain recognition and financial success in his native England. His simple, naturalistic depictions of the English countryside often clashed with the prevailing artistic tastes of the time. While he achieved acclaim in France, where his work was celebrated and awarded, the British public remained largely indifferent.

His financial situation was precarious throughout his career. While his father's death in 1816 initially provided some financial security, a subsequent recession in 1826 led to the bankruptcy of his publishing house. Fortunately, an inheritance in 1828 allowed him to continue his artistic pursuits. However, his commercial success remained limited, with only twenty paintings sold in England during his lifetime. It wasn't until he was 52 that he was finally elected to the Royal Academy, a significant achievement but one that came late in his career.

In the end, it was in France that Constable's work truly resonated, leaving a lasting impact on the course of European art history.

FOOD AND DRINK Constable’s final meal before his death was a humble supper of bread, cheese, water, and bottled plums, reflecting his simple lifestyle.

MUSIC AND ARTS John Constable, a visionary artist, broke away from the traditional conventions of landscape painting in the early 19th century. While other artists of his time idealized and romanticized their subjects, Constable sought to capture the raw beauty and fleeting moments of the natural world. His bold and often unconventional style, characterized by loose brushstrokes and vivid colors, initially met with skepticism from his contemporaries.

In the early 1800s, Constable began to focus on plein-air painting, working directly from nature to capture the ever-changing effects of light and atmosphere. His fascination with the dynamic interplay of light, cloud, and wind led him to produce numerous sketches and studies. Inspired by the work of Rubens, Constable sought to imbue his landscapes with a sense of movement and energy.

Key Moments in Constable's Art Career:

1819: Constable exhibited his monumental six-foot painting, The White Horse, at the Royal Academy, where it was awarded a gold medal.

1820: He showcased Flatford Mill, a nostalgic depiction of his childhood home in Suffolk.

1821: The Hay Wain The painting was originally titled Landscape: Noon.When it was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1821 it failed to find a buyer. However, it created a sensation at the Paris Salon, earning international acclaim for its innovative use of light and color.

The Hay Wain (1821). National Gallery, London.

Constable once wrote, "painting is but another word for feeling," indicating a strong emotional connection to his work.

Despite his artistic achievements, Constable faced numerous challenges during his lifetime. His work was often misunderstood and undervalued by the British public, who preferred more traditional styles of landscape painting. It wasn't until after his death that his true genius was recognized, and his influence on subsequent generations of artists became apparent.

In recent years, a controversy emerged when it was discovered that several works attributed to Constable were actually painted by other family members, including his son Lionel. This revelation has led to a reassessment of his oeuvre and a deeper understanding of his artistic practice.

LITERATURE  Constable was known to read widely, particularly poetry and sermons. He was acquainted with the Romantic poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 

Constable was an active correspondent, suggesting he enjoyed writing and maintaining relationships through letters.

His life and works were celebrated posthumously in Memoirs of the Life of John Constable, a biography by his friend Charles Robert Leslie, which remains a classic in art history.

NATURE Nature was central to Constable’s life and work. He loved Hampstead Heath and frequently painted scenes of Suffolk, Brighton, and the countryside.

Constable had a keen interest in geology and meteorology, which he studied to better understand and represent nature in his paintings

PETS Constable frequently depicted horses in his paintings, particularly in rural and working scenes. For example, The Leaping Horse (1825) features a horse prominently.

The Leaping Horse, 1825, oil on canvas, Royal Academy of Arts, London

HOBBIES AND SPORTS His primary “hobby” was painting landscapes, which he pursued as both a vocation and a lifelong passion.

Constable spent much time outdoors observing nature, which was both a professional necessity and a personal passion.

As part of his artistic development, Constable spent time studying and copying works of old masters, which was both a hobby and a learning exercise

SCIENCE AND MATHS Constable had a particular interest in the science of light and atmospheric effects, often experimenting with techniques to depict light and weather in his landscapes.

In the 1820s, Constable began to show interest in scientific methods and inquiry, which at the time was closely linked to theology. His detailed studies of clouds, flora, and fauna were aimed at understanding "God's great plan."

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY John Constable, a devout Anglican, possessed a deep spiritual connection to the natural world. He viewed nature as a manifestation of divine purpose, a belief influenced by the ideas of natural theologians like William Paley. Constable saw God's presence in every aspect of the landscape, from the grandest mountains to the smallest flower.

His paintings often convey a sense of awe and wonder, capturing the sublime beauty of the English countryside. Through his art, he sought to reveal the divine qualities inherent in nature, elevating landscapes to the status of religious icons. Constable's reverence for the natural world is evident in his countless studies of trees, clouds, and water, which he meticulously observed and recorded.

Constable's artistic philosophy was rooted in a belief in the interconnectedness of art, science, and nature. He viewed landscape painting as a form of natural philosophy, a means of understanding and interpreting the world around him. By capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, he sought to reveal the underlying order and harmony of the universe.

Constable valued tradition and stability. He believed in the importance of the Church of England and the agrarian way of life. His paintings often feature church towers and rural landscapes, symbolizing the enduring values of the English countryside.

Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows (1831). Tate Britain.

POLITICS Constable was a Tory who believed in the traditional "rightness" of the English countryside and its practices. He saw a stable agriculture as the foundation for a prosperous and stable society 

SCANDAL Although not scandalous by nature, Constable’s lack of success in England compared to France led to some controversy among British art critics who struggled to appreciate his rural scenes.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS He faced significant health challenges following the death of his wife, Maria, who left him as a single father to seven children. This period took a toll on his health and well-being.

Constable struggled with the lack of recognition in England during his lifetime, which affected his mood and self-esteem

HOMES , Constable's painting Flatford Mill (Scene on a Navigable River) depicts a view toward his father's mill at Flatford. This painting was one of Constable's most ambitious to date, showing working life along the river he knew well from his childhood. The area around Flatford and Dedham Vale featured in many of Constable's most famous works. He said he "should paint his own places best."

John Constable - Flatford Mill

Constable made Hampstead his home for many years. Initially, he rented a house on Hampstead Heath, spending most summers there from 1819 onwards. In 1827, he and his family moved permanently to Hampstead, settling in a house on Lower Terrace.

The move to Hampstead was motivated by a desire to improve Maria's health. The cleaner air and peaceful environment of the village were believed to be beneficial for her. Constable grew to love the picturesque landscapes of Hampstead Heath, which frequently appear in his paintings. 

TRAVEL Constable, like many of his contemporaries, sought inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of Britain. He ventured to the Peak District in 1801 and the Lake District in 1806, immersing himself in the grandeur of these natural wonders.

During his honeymoon in 1816, Constable and his wife Maria visited Osmington, a picturesque village near Weymouth. There, he captured the beauty of the coastline, creating numerous oil sketches, drawings, and watercolors of the local coves and seascapes.

In the 1820s, the Constables frequently visited Brighton, hoping that the sea air would benefit Maria's health. While there, Constable produced a series of oil sketches, capturing the dynamic energy of the sea and the vibrant colors of the coastal landscape. Despite the therapeutic benefits of the seaside, Constable found the town itself rather uninspiring. He complained about the crowds and the lack of artistic opportunities, often expressing frustration in his letters to friends.

While Constable's work was celebrated in France, he never visited the country himself. His aversion to the French was so strong that he refused to travel to Paris to collect the gold medals awarded to him by the French king.

DEATH John Constable died on March 31, 1837, of heart failure in his London studio at 76 Charlotte Street. He was buried with his wife Maria in the graveyard of St John-at-Hampstead.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Constable's legacy was later celebrated through various exhibitions, and Leslie’s Memoirs of the Life of John Constable helped secure his place in art history.

In the 21st century, Constable’s life and work have been explored in documentaries such as Constable: A Country Rebel (BBC) and Constable in Love (BBC), which delve into his artistic legacy and personal life. His career and relationship with his contemporaries, particularly J.M.W. Turner, have also been examined in documentaries like The Art of the Landscape, highlighting the Romantic landscape painting movement.

Constable has appeared as a character in dramatizations of British art history. For instance, The Genius of Turner and Romantics & Revolutionaries include portrayals of Constable, focusing on his rivalry with Turner and his contributions to Romanticism.

ACHIEVEMENTS Constable’s major works, such as The Hay Wain and Flatford Mill, are celebrated as masterpieces of British art, known for their innovation in landscape painting. His legacy endures through his influence on both British and French art, despite only achieving fame in his homeland posthumously.