John Constable was an English Romantic painter, best known as a landscape artist of the late eighteenth century. He was born on June 11, 1776 in East Bergholt, Suffolk, England to Golding and Ann Wattsable. Constable attended the Royal Academy Schools at the age of 22 and achieved success with both watercolour sketches and oil paintings. His scientific interest in nature allowed him to pursue the study of the effects of light and atmosphere in natural vistas and this preoccupation became a subject in his artworks. He demonstrated a talent for capturing beauty which led him to influence the French Romantic movement and The Barbizon School.
Constable died on March 28, 1837 in London after suffering from apparent heart failure. Throughout his life he had experienced much personal tragedy including losing two children to premature death. The portrayal of rural life was one constant throughout his artwork; through it he captured what life was like on English landscapes while communicating a feeling of tranquillity as well as joyfulness that is still appreciated today by modern audiences. His works left such an imprint on art history that some consider Constable himself Britain’s equivalent to Claude Monet.
Famous John Constable Paintings
Famous John Constable paintings include: The Hay Wain (1821), The White Horse, The Cornfield (1826), and Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, among others.
