An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
Stoke-by-NaylandJohn Constable (English, 1776-1837)
1836
England
126 × 169 cm (49 5/8 × 66 1/2 in.); Framed: 169 × 213.4 cm (66 1/2 × 84 in.)
Oil on canvas
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Kimball Collection
['19th century']
['landscapes', 'gates', 'countryside', 'Century of Progress', "world's fairs", "Chicago World's Fairs", 'ploughs', 'wagons', 'plants', 'trees', 'towns', 'houses', 'cows', 'horses', 'farmers', 'farm life', 'rural life']
['oil on canvas', 'british', 'oil paintings (visual works)', 'paint', 'painting', 'european painting']
['oil paint (paint)', 'paint', 'painting', 'canvas']
['oil painting', 'painting', 'painting techniques', 'painting (image making)']
['Essentials']
John Constable produced this full-size oil sketch near the end of his life, for an unrealized painting. It depicts the artist’s favored subject matter: the countryside of his youth in Suffolk, England. He wrote to a friend of this work: “What say you to a summer morning? July or August, at eight or nine o’clock, after a slight shower during the night.” To achieve the effect of sparkling wetness and the freshness of earth and air, Constable painted as much with a palette knife as with a brush, flecking the surface with white highlights as he sketched and scraped the picture into existence.
| attributed to Art Institute of Chicago under CC-By license
In the twilight of his years, John Constable stood at the easel, his heart filled with memories of a countryside bathed in summer's glow. This was more than just an oil sketch; it was a quiet whisper of his youth, a tender homage to the rolling fields and gentle skies of Suffolk, England—his beloved haven.
He leaned closer to his work, envisioning a scene that had yet to be realized, a painting that would capture the essence of a morning where the earth, washed anew by a gentle shower, sparkled with life. With each stroke, he sought to bring forth the magic of July or August, at that enchanting hour when the sun began to rise, casting soft, warm light over dew-kissed grass.
In a letter to a friend, he shared his vision: “What say you to a summer morning? July or August, at eight or nine o’clock…” There was a rhythm to his words, a poetic invitation that beckoned the reader to step into his world—the world he longed to recreate on canvas.
As he worked, Constable’s tools danced across the surface. The brush glided and the palette knife came alive, scraping and sketching with a jubilance that mirrored the beauty around him. He flecked the canvas with white highlights, imbuing it with a spirit that echoed the freshness of the earth and air, a tactile representation of nature's vivid embrace.
Each layer of paint told a story, a symphony of life that resonated with the simplicity and splendor of a summer's day. This was a moment suspended in time, a glimpse into the soul of an artist deeply connected to his roots—a serene reflection of not just a scene, but a lifetime of love for the land.
About the artist
Welcome to the Art Institute of Chicago, home to a collection of art that spans centuries and the globe—and one of Tripadvisor’s “Best of the Best” US attractions of 2023. We look forward to your visit and invite you to explore our many exhibitions and to join us for one of our free daily tours in-person.The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from The Institute's Open Access dataset under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL, USA 60603
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