The Story
Criticized in his lifetime for his rough handling of paint, John Constables (17761837) paintings have long defined the idea of the English countryside, its geography fully captured by his remarkable naturalism. His vivid and timeless oil sketches, as he called them, have been celebrated since the 1890s as precursors of Impressionism, Modernism, and photography. This major book reconciles the two defining aspects of Constables workhis revolutionary painting techniques and his reverence for the old masters. Where other artists competed with the masters, Constable assimilated their ideas and values to imbue his own naturalistic vision with dynamism. This seeming incompatibility, placed in the context of the artists wider practice, helps delineate why Constable remains such a powerful influence on contemporary artists.
Description
Criticized in his lifetime for his rough handling of paint, John Constables (17761837) paintings have long defined the idea of the English countryside, its geography fully captured by his remarkable naturalism. His vivid and timeless oil sketches, as he called them, have been celebrated since the 1890s as precursors of Impressionism, Modernism, and photography. This major book reconciles the two defining aspects of Constables workhis revolutionary painting techniques and his reverence for the old masters. Where other artists competed with the masters, Constable assimilated their ideas and values to imbue his own naturalistic vision with dynamism. This seeming incompatibility, placed in the context of the artists wider practice, helps delineate why Constable remains such a powerful influence on contemporary artists.
