Constable

ONE OF THE TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES' BEST BOOKS FOR 2022

SHORTLISTED FOR THE POL ROGER DUFF COOPER PRIZE 2023

'Eye-opening and full of surprises . . . A treasure' Sunday Times

'A biography as rich with colourful characters as any novel' Telegraph

Constable by James Hamilton unveils the fascinating life of John Constable, the revolutionary nineteenth-century painter famed for his landscapes and skies of southern England. Though beloved by many, Constable remains perhaps Britain's least understood artist.

Constable's paintings shocked and perplexed his contemporaries with their detailed attention, spontaneous gestures, and bold use of colour. His works reveal a keen local knowledge of Suffolk, a precise expression of Hampstead's skyscapes, insights into the human tides of London and Brighton, and a capability to express silent, suppressed passion in his depictions of Salisbury Cathedral.

An active correspondent, Constable's letters and diaries—over one thousand of them—expose a man brimming with passion, opinion, and discord. His vibrant character emerges through these writings, which also illuminate the lives and dynamics of his family members, painting a vivid social and economic backdrop that frames Constable himself.

In Constable, James Hamilton presents a complex, troubled man, dismantling previous myths to establish Constable as a giant of European art within his correct historical context.