John Constable was one of the supreme painters of the weather, and his
depictions of the sky are essential components of all his landscape
paintings, from famous works such as The Hay Wain and Salisbury
Cathedral from the Meadows to his numerous cloud studies painted on
Hampstead Heath, culminating in paintings that are all sky; the
landscape beneath is completely absent.
In a letter to friend John Fisher, written in 1821, Constable commented,
"That landscape painter who does not make his skies a very material part
of his composition, neglects to avail himself of one of his greatest
aids . . . It will be difficult to name a class of landscape in which
the sky is not the key note, the standard of scale, and the chief organ
of sentiment."
Written by Mark Evans, a leading authority on the work of John
Constable, and brimming with beautiful images, Constable's Skies
captures the artist's fascination with the sky and brings together his
depictions of the English weather from throughout his career. The
unprecedented fidelity of Constable's painted skies is proven by
reference to contemporary weather diaries. The book also includes a
guide to where to find Constable's work around the world.
