John Constable was born in 1776 in Suffolk. His father was a successful merchant. As a small boy he was encouraged by his teacher, the local plumber and his indulgent parents to practice drawing. He was educated at Dedham Grammar School and after a short stint in the family flour-milling business was allowed to study art. His father was keen for John to remain in the family business, but if not, at least go into church-work, but he was also a loving father and listened to John’s reasons. He convinced his father to allow him to study art at the Royal Academy in London in 1799 and his younger brother took over the family business.
He was studious and seemed to master the necessary techniques, but he missed home. Also, he was not able to sell his works at first. Some said that his style was too individual. He sold only 20 paintings in his lifetime and relied on selling portraits in order to live. His paintings capture the effects of changing light and cloud patterns as they move across the sky. In order to capture these images, he painted mainly outdoors. He is regarded as an excellent landscape artist with a romantic style. He did attain some success in France, in 1824, by winning the gold medal at “The Hay Wain”. He was awarded full membership to the Royal Academy in 1829. His work influenced the French artist Delacriox, and he and his students followed the method of painting outdoors, which is still practiced today.
His father died in 1816 and he inherited a small fortune and almost immediately married Maria Bicknell, whom he had known since childhood. Theirs is a classic love story, forbidden to marry for seven years by a Maria’s rich grandfather, then marriage, then seven children, then Maria contracted tuberculosis and died in 1828. John was devastated. Five of their children became painters.
John was an honest painter, with a strong self-belief that kept him painting landscapes, even though he was not selling them.
John Constable died in 1837, in London.
His fame grew after his death and he left behind a wonderful body of work and a new way of painting landscapes.
The possibility of obtaining any of the great artworks by this artist is quite small, although from time to time they become available, but usually one needs to bid against international galleries for the artwork. Prints and cards have been produced by many suppliers of these works and other masters. For more information on the old masters and painters of the 18th century, go to http://uniquevintageprints.googlepages.com
Tags: artist, english artist, english painter, John Constable, painter
