“The climax of absurdity to which art may be carried when led away from nature by fashion, may be best seen in the works of Boucher.” MayArtFashionAbsurdityClimax Book:Delphi Collected Works of John Constable (Illustrated) Source: Delphi Collected Works of John Constable (Illustrated)
“I ought to respect myself for my friends' sake, and my children's. It is time, at fifty-six, to begin, at least, to know oneself, - and I do know what I am not, and your regard for me has at least awakened me to believe in the possibility that I may yet make some impression with my "light" - my "dews" - my "breezes" - my bloom and freshness, - no one of which qualities has yet been perfected on the canvas of any painter in the world.” KnowsWorldBelieveMayChildrenLightQualityPossibilityOughtSixMy FriendsRegardSakeOneselfImpressionPainterMy ChildrenFiftyCanvasBreezeAwakenedDewFreshnessKnowing Oneself Author:John Constable
“He [the artist] ought to have 'these powerful organs of expression' - colour and chiaroscuro - entirely at his command, that he may use them in every possible form, as well as that he may do with the most perfect freedom; therefore, whether he wishes to make the subject of a joyous, solemn, or meditative character, by flinging over it the cheerful aspect which the sun bestows, by a proper disposition of shade, or by the appearances that beautify its arising or its setting, a true "General Effect" should never be lost sight of.” ShouldWellsMayCharacterUseFormArtistLostWishPerfectPowerfulSunSubjectsEffectsExpressionOughtAspectSightAppearanceSettingCommandSettingsColourOver ItShadeOrgansDispositionCheerfulSolemnJoyousChiaroscuro Author:John Constable
“Painting is a science, and should be pursued as an inquiry into the laws of nature. Why, then, may not landscape painting be considered as a branch of natural philosophy, of which pictures are but the experiments?” ShouldMayPhilosophyLawScienceNatureNaturalPaintingExperimentsLandscapeBranchesInquiryLaws Of NaturePursuedNatural PhilosophyLandscape Painting Book:John Constable's Skies: A Fusion of Art and Science Source: John Constable's Skies: A Fusion of Art and Science
“I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may - light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful.” MayLightBeautifulFormAttitudeBeautySawsDesignObjectsPerspectiveIntelligenceUglyShadeBeing BeautifulUgly Things Author:John Constable
