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THE HAY-WAIN
By JOHN CONSTABLE R.A. (1776-1837)
IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON
Sometimes it is left for posterity to appraise a man aright, and the world wonders why the recognition of genius was so long delayed. Although Constable was honoured in France, his fame in England was never so great in his lifetime as it is to-day. He became a Royal Academician, it is true, but he was misjudged up to the time of his death. Three years after he was elected an Academician, he exhibited his "Waterloo Bridge," which was described by his detractors as having been painted with his palette knife only.
From his early years Constable had to contend with opposition which bade fair to nullify any encouragement which he received. His father was unable to appreciate his early signs of genius, and it was with difficulty that he was persuaded to allow his son to study. The parent, however, unknowingly conferred one great benefit upon him when he set him to work in one of his mills, for here he gained the first insight into the atmospheric changes which are so wonderfully expressed in his paintings. Progress in his art was slow, but he plodded on with true English persistency, studying and copying a great deal and creating a little.
In 1802 Constable exhibited his first picture, but it was not till nine years later, when he was thirty-five years of age, that he gave the world the first evidence of his own distinctive power in his picture of Dedham Vale. After another five years of struggle with poverty he inherited 4,000 pounds from his father, married, and settled down in comparative comfort and freedom from anxiety to produce some of his finest work.
He studied the country with loving patience, and reproduced what he saw with brilliant contrasts of light and shadow that reveal to us the eternal sweetness and charm of the English countryside.
From the book "Famous Paintings" printed in 1913.
Large files of this public domain print are available at Stock Photos at Songs of Praise
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Online "Name the Painting"
John Constable Paintings
at Olga's Gallery
John Constable Biography
at Olga's Gallery
"The Opening of Waterloo Bridge" by John Constable
at the ArtChive
List of images of paintings by John Constable
at the ArtChive
John Constable
at Wikipedia
Famous Paintings in this Series
