Art Appreciation: Constable's Landscapes

This course will explore aspects of the landscape painting work by John Constable, and how this relates to the wider Art chronological context in terms of the reception of the genre of landscape painting. Constable was committed to elevating the importance of the genre and did so with large scale six foot canvases such as 'The Haywain'. We will look beyond the superficial recognition of this famous paintings to understand the technique and characteristics of Constable's style of painting. There will be detailed analysis of key elements of Constable's work with a focus on locations such as his native Stour Valley on the Suffolk/Essex border, Hampstead Heath and Salisbury. Understand why these locations were so important to Constable & how they intertwined with his life and background.  Discover Constable's innovative approach making preparatory outdoor oil sketches, to gather visual reference material for his large studio paintings. Prepare to be visually enthralled by this artist's work. Learners will discuss and analyse a range of paintings by John Constable, making comparisons and contrasts to demonstrate an understanding of the material. Learners will contribute to Canvas in relation to the material studied during classes. Fully illustrated with plenty of opportunity for discussion throughout each session.