JOHN CONSTABLE: A Portrait

A fresh and lively portrait of the artist as a young man to becoming the revolutionary landscape painter. John Constable captured the landscapes and skies of southern England in a way never before seen on canvas. He is a beloved but little-understood artist. His paintings reflect visions of landscapes that perplexed his contemporaries. Attention to detail, spontaneous in gesture, and brave in their use of colour, his landscapes show that he had a sharp local knowledge of the environment and an understanding of the human tides of his times. His late paintings of Salisbury Cathedral show a rare ability to transform silent, suppressed passion into paint. His letters and journals reveal a man of opinion, passion and discord, and reveal the lives and circumstances of his extended family who serve to define the social and economic landscape of the time. The close inspection includes his influences, challenges and tragedies as well as the misconceptions that have followed the man behind the paintings. He emerges as a richly colourful character. On a coach back to London from Suffolk in his 50s, Constable drew a fellow passenger's attention to Dedham Vale: 'Is this not beautiful?' 'Yes Sir' came the answer, 'This is Constable's country.' 'I am John Constable' he replied. Drawing on John Constable's extensive correspondence and other writings, this deft use of his compelling voice keeps the narrative moving in this eye-opening biography of the celebrated landscape painter, a biography full of surprises like the exciting sky effects of the tempestuous Rainstorm over the Sea, painted in Brighton. One of the greatest pleasures is the range of people we meet whom Constable either liked or was interested in, not least his wonderful wife Maria. 471pp including cast of characters, illustrations and 37 colour plates including his final painting of Arundel Mill and Castle, 1837 and maps including his London, Stour Valley and Hampstead.