Constable: The life and Masterworks - Hardcover

Venning, Barry

9781859959251: Constable: The life and Masterworks

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1859959253 ISBN 13: 9781859959251

Publisher: Parkstone Press Ltd, 2004

John Constable (1776-1837) is arguably the best-loved of English artists; his fame and popularity are rivalled only by his great contemporary, J M W Turner. But like Turner, his reputation rests on a handful of very well-known paintings, normally Suffolk scenes such as Flatford Mill or Hay-Wain. Many of the magisterial productions of his last years, including Hadleigh Castle and The Opening of the Waterloo Bridge are a far cry from the Suffolk scenes, whilst his accomplishments within the difficult and competitive genre of marine painting have been consistently undervalued. Barry Venning's introduction considers Constable background, his family life, his education and the early friendships from which he drew patronage, support and advice. He discusses the artist's relationship with the great tradition of European landscape painting and examines the historical and cultural context within which Constable lived and worked.

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Synopsis:

A lavishly illustrated appraisal of the life and work of John Constable (1776-1837) - In addition to his celebrated Suffolk scenes, this volume also features the magisterial productions of his later years such as Chain Pier, Brighton and The Opening of Waterloo Bridge Although he never lost his affection for the scenery of the Suffolk-Essex border, Constable gradually extended the range of his subject matter. His visits, in particular, to Salisbury, and to Brighton, providing him with much new material. But it was Hampstead that became the main focus of his later work and that most transient of all natural phenomena, sky. In an attempt to counter the neglect and misunderstanding of his work during his lifetime, Constable collaborated on a series of mezzotints after his works, accompanied by explanatory texts. M eeting failure even here, he wrote: "Every gleam of sunshine is blighted to me in the art at least. Can it therefore be wondered at that I paint continual storms." John Constable is arguably the best-loved of English artists. Barry Venning's thorough introduction considers Constable's background, family life, education, and early patronage, support and advice.

He goes on to discuss the artist's relationship within the great tradition of European landscape painting and examines - through narrative and over 200 full-colour illustrations - the historical and cultural context in which the painter lived and worked.

About the Author:

Barry Venning is an art historian who was educated at the University of York and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He has a particular interest in British landscape painting and has published articles in the Burlington Magazine, Art History and Turner Studies. He currently teaches at Chelsea College of Art and for the Open University.

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