John Constable

John Constable was a master of Romantic landscape painting, focusing on the beauty and drama of the English countryside, particularly his beloved Suffolk.

Key characteristics include:

• Emphasis on light and atmosphere: Capturing fleeting moments of weather and sunlight using broken brushstrokes and vivid color.
• Naturalism and direct observation: Painting "as if I had never seen a picture before," striving for realistic depictions of nature.
• Emotional connection to place: Imbuing his landscapes with personal feeling and a sense of nostalgia for rural life.
• "Constable's Clouds": He was a pioneer in meticulously studying and depicting cloud formations, recognizing their crucial role in shaping the overall atmosphere of a landscape.

Themes:

• The beauty of rural England
• The power and tranquility of nature
• The changing seasons and weather
• The importance of place and memory

Mnemonic: Think of Constable's Clouds as his defining characteristic. He elevated cloud studies to an art form, forever linking his name to his masterful portrayal of the sky.