Constable 250 : A Cast of Characters

John Constable (1776 –1837) is recognised as one of the most significant of all British artists, who changed not only how we paint but perhaps, more importantly, how we look at landscape. Published to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth, this book uncovers how the East Anglian people in combination with the landscape helped to shape Constable’s career. This is the story of a diverse cast of characters who formed a part of Constable’s wider milieu, from his enterprising mother, Ann Constable, to Ipswich fossil hunter, Elizabeth Cobbold. Constable spent his early career fostering these local connections and being immersed in the landscapes of Suffolk and Essex. His long walks enabled him to build up a rich visual imagery that would result in large-scale paintings such as The Hay Wain and Dedham Vale. These images have since had a long-lasting impact on the location they depict, known as ‘Constable Country’ and now a designated National Landscape.

This richly illustrated book, edited by Emma Roodhouse, includes contributions from sculptor Sasha Constable, artist and curator Peter Harrap, collector John Day and Senior Curator of Prints & Drawings at the Fitzwilliam Museum Elenor Ling.