Biography of John Constable

John Constable was a nineteenth century artist famed for his landscapes.

When and Where was he Born?

11th June 1776, East Bergholt, Suffolk, England.

Family Background:

Constable was the son of a wealthy mill owner.

Education:

Royal Academy Schools, London.

Timeline of John Constable:

1794: Constable works for a year in his father’s mill but the wealthy landscape painter and art patron Sir George Beaumont encourages his family to send him to the Royal Academy Schools.

1802: He exhibits his first painting at the Royal Academy in London.

1816: He marries Maria Bicknell.

1819: Constable is elected an Associate of the Royal Academy.

1824: He has a success at the Paris Salon with “The Haywain” winning a Gold Medal.

1825: He wins a gold Medal at Lille with “White Horse”.

1827: Death of his wife Maria.

1828: On the death of Constable’s father-in-law he inherits £20,000 and is able to devote himself entirely to landscape painting.

1829: Constable is  elected a Full Member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

His style particularly encompassed the changing light on a landscape and the movement of clouds across the sky. His later years were saddened by bereavement, ill health and depression but he continued painting, although many of his landscapes went unsold.

When and Where did he Die?

31st March 1837, London, England of heart failure.

Age at Death:

61.

Paintings:

1819: “View on the Stour”. Exhibited at the Royal Academy.
1820: “The Hay Wain”. Exhibited at the Royal Academy (National Gallery, London).
1823: “Salisbury Cathedral.” (Victoria and Albert Museum, London).

Marriage:

1816: Maria Bicknell. (Died 1827).

Site of Grave:

St. John’s Churchyard, Church Row, Hampstead, London, England.

Places of Interest:

AVON:

City Art Gallery, Bristol.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE:

Eltham Hall, Peterborough.
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

DEVON:

Knightshayes Court.

ESSEX:

Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE:

Suddeley Castle.

LANCASHIRE:

Burnley Art Gallery.
Bury Art Gallery.

LEICESTERSHIRE:

Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester.

LONDON:

Fenton House.
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square.
Tate Britain, Millbank.
Victoria and Albert Museum.

GREATER MANCHESTER:

Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.
City Art Gallery, Manchester.

MERSEYSIDE:

Lady Lever Gallery, Port Sunlight, Wirral.

NORTHUMBERLAND:

Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle.

SUFFOLK:

Christchurch Mansion.
St. James’s Church.

SURREY:

Ham House, Richmond.
Royal Holloway College, Egham.

WARWICKSHIRE:

Upton House.

WEST MIDLANDS:

Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry.
New Art Gallery, Walsall.

YORKSHIRE:

Rochdale Art Gallery.
Ferens art Gallery, Hull.
City Art Gallery, Leeds.
The Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield.

WALES:

Glynn Vivien Art Gallery, Swansea.