'The Hay Wain' is the painting by Constable that I know best. When I was a child I had a collection of art cards and this is when I first saw this painting. I remember thinking that would be a fun place to play.
I still like the peaceful scene. I marvel at its detail. Who needs photography if you can paint like this!
John Constable was an English landscape artist who lived from 1776 to 1837.
Constable joined the family coal and corn business when he 16 but soon began to devote his life to painting. He first exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1802. He also began taking commissions.
Constable was a 'Naturalist' painter. Naturalism was a 19th-century movement. Naturalist painters tried to paint things as they appear to the human eye.
It's very hard for me to choose which of Constable's many landscapes to show you but here are some of my favourites:
Again, the detail amazes me. No wonder this artwork took a year to paint. A lot of it was painted en plein air (outside). I love the way the sunlight makes the horse the focal point. This painting really reminds me how the pace of life was slower in those days.
This painting makes me realise how great the part was that horses played in life in those days. It's interesting to see the buildings too. What nice surroundings they had.
I would love to paint en plein air in a beautiful park near me. John Constable actually did it!
I leave you with a photo of John Constable's Suffolk studio.
Have you visited the Steemit Art Centre? There are some cool artworks there to view. Here is the link to follow:
@deemarshall/6bgxjy-steemit-art-centre-saturday-s-update
