John Constable
English, 1776–1837
Cloud Study
c. 1821–22
While summering in Hampstead in 1821 and 1822, Constable painted more than one hundred cloud studies. Through careful observation and a familiarity with the latest treatises on meteorology, he recorded the atmospheric activity with remarkable accuracy. Yet these studies are more than meteorological notes—the artist described the sky as the “chief organ of sentiment” in a landscape painting.
| Medium | oil on laminate cardboard |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 9 3/8 x 11 7/8 in. (23.8 x 30.2 cm) |
| Object Number | 2007.8.58 |
| Acquisition | Gift of the Manton Art Foundation in memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, 2007 |
| Status | Off View |
Image Caption
John Constable, Cloud Study, c. 1821–22, oil on laminate cardboard. Clark Art Institute, gift of the Manton Art Foundation in memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, 2007.8.58
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EUROPEAN PAINTINGS CATALOGUE ENTRY
Provenance
Private collection (c. 1960–97, sale, Sotheby’s, London, 9 July 1997, no. 90, sold to Ackermann & Johnson, London, Ltd., as agent for Manton); Sir Edwin A. G. Manton (1997–d. 2005); Manton Family Art Foundation (2005–7, given to the Clark); Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 2007.
