International Art Treasures Web Magazine

March 2006  

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Constable: Impressions of
Land, Sea and Sky

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
March 3 - June 12, 2006

Title: A Boat Passing a Lock,
Artist: John Constable (English 1776-1837)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 101.6 x 127.0 cm
Permanent Collection: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

The beauty of an English Countryside is the heritage of the landscape works that flowed from the brushstrokes of John Constable. As he once said, "Nature is the fountain’s head, the source from whence all originality must spring." Constable was the son of a prosperous mill owner, merchant and barge operator. As a young lad he grew up along the Stour River in Suffolk, England and spent several years working in his father’s business, it was during this career that he understood the impact of the changing seasons upon an agricultural community and sea based business.

Constable believed one had to experience nature in order to bring it alive on the canvas. He was known to create rapid sketches that captured the kaleidoscope of light and atmosphere.

Title: Rainstorm over the Sea, c.1824-1828
Artist: John Constable (English 1776-1837)
Medium: Oil on Paper Laid on Canvas
Dimensions: 22.2 x 31.0 cm
Permanent Collection: London, Royal Academy of Arts
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

Romantic landscape artist is an apt phrase to illustrate the exquisite beauty transcending through the magnificent Constable works. He always maintained that the essence of any natural artist had to be nature and the best method was to draw directly from Nature.

He was known to create multiple sketches, oils on paper and small wood panels before making large compositions. It was the final produce that was the climax of his work though some believed his sketches en plein air were just as worthy of praise.

Title: Cloud Study, 1822
Artist: John Constable (English 1776-1837)
Medium: Oil on Paper
Dimensions: 29.2 x 48.2 cm
Permanent Collection: Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

Skies are the ultimate in beauty of a Constable work he is virtually unparalleled in his atmospheric renditions. He created a series of cloud studies in his quest to show the beauty of the sunlight shining on English countryside.

Title: Old Sarum, 1834
Artist: John Constable (English 1776-1837)
Medium: Watercolor
Dimensions: 30.0 x 48.7 cm
Permanent Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

In 1819 Constable was elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy enabling to sign future works with A.R.A. It took another decade before he became a full member of the Academy.

Constable: Impressions of Land, Sea and Sky has a thematic presentation demonstrating specific phases of the artist's approach including cloud studies; oil sketching methods, and possible his favorite subject, the lock

Title: Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds, 1822-23
Artist: John Constable (English 1776-1837)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 87.6 x 111.8 cm
Permanent Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

Constable: Impressions of Land, Sea and Sky
National Gallery of Australia:
March 3 - June 12, 2006
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington:
July 5 - October 8 2006