Study of Clouds thumbnail 1
Study of Clouds thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Study of Clouds

Oil Painting
05/09/1822 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Constable, John (RA) (artist)
Place of origin
Great Britain (painted)

In October 1822 Constable wrote that he had made 'about 50 carefull studies of skies tolerably large'. This one is inscribed on the reverse: 'looking S.E. noon. Wind very brisk. & effect bright & fresh. Clouds. moving very fast. With occasional very bright openings to the blue'.


Object details

Categories
Paintings
Access_to_Images 2003
SCRAN
Object type
Oil painting
TitleStudy of Clouds (popular title)
Materials and techniques
oil on paper
Oil Paint
Paper
Oil Painting
Brief description
Oil painting, 'Study of Clouds', John Constable, 1822
Physical description
Blue, white, and grey study of clouds.
Dimensions
  • Estimate height: 298mm
  • Estimate width: 483mm
  • Frame height: 51.3cm (Note: Taken from frame)
  • Frame width: 71.5cm (Note: Taken from frame)
Dimensions taken from Catalogue of the Constable Collection, Graham Reynolds, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: HMSO, 1973
Style
British School
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Sepr. 5. 1822. looking S.E. noon. Windvery brisk. & effect bright & fresh. Clouds. moving very fast. with occasional very bright openings to the blue.' (Inscribed by the artist in ink on back)
  • 'Drawn by John. Augst--1822' (Inscribed in ink on the back with a child's pencil drawing of a house.)
Credit line
Given by Isabel Constable
Object history
Given by Isabel Constable, 1888
Historical context
In 1822 Constable's exhibits at the Royal Academy included: 'View on the Stour near Dedham' (now in the Huntington Library and Art Gallery, San Marino) (see sketch-book No. 132, p. 52), 'View from the Terrace, Hampstead' (see No. 252) and 'A study of Trees from Nature' (see No. 223). Constable's fourth child Isabel, the donor of the greater part of the collection catalogued here, was born at No. 2 Lower Terrace, Hampstead, on 23 August.

[G Reynolds, 1973, p. 152]
Subject depicted
Clouds
Summary
In October 1822 Constable wrote that he had made 'about 50 carefull studies of skies tolerably large'. This one is inscribed on the reverse: 'looking S.E. noon. Wind very brisk. & effect bright & fresh. Clouds. moving very fast. With occasional very bright openings to the blue'.
Bibliographic reference
Catalogue of the Constable Collection, Graham Reynolds, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: HMSO, 1973, pp. 152, 153
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
590-1888

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 25, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82726/study-of-clouds-oil-painting-constable-john-ra/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest