John Constable

John Constable (1776-1837) is best known for his idyllic pictures of the English countryside. Yet he was also a brilliant innovator who brought a new vivacity to the observation of nature. He practiced oil painting in the open air with unprecedented dedication, capturing in particular the 'effervescent' effects of atmospherics - as can be seen, for example, in his wonderful studies of clouds. His art became a benchmark for naturalist painters throughout Europe and America in the nineteenth century, playing a part in the development of Impressionism in France.This book draws extensively on the artist's own correspondence to provide a new understanding of his artistic aims and achievements, and reassesses his role in the development of modern art.