View from Hampstead Heath, looking towards Harrow

John Constable 1776 - 1837

Summary

In this landscape, viewed from a high vantage point, the topography appears to be of less significance than the sky, which dominates the composition in both its drama and mass. In the foreground, the land dips and rises again into a wooded hill; to the right is a pond; here the landscape is depicted in green and earthy tones with snatches of yellow as sunlight hits the land and trees. Beyond, the landscape continues to undulate in hazy blue hues with a colder, whiter light. On the horizon, the sky is a cool pink colour; higher up the composition, the sky is depicted in blues, greys, browns and white; to the left is a dramatic cloud, almost black in colour, to the right of which is a burst of white light breaking through the afternoon clouds.

Display Label

View from Hampstead Heath, looking towards Harrow 1821 John Constable 1776-1837 Oil on paper mounted on canvas Constable made around a hundred sketches of the sky from Hampstead Heath between 1820 and 1823. He referred to the practice as 'skying' and saw it as an exercise in improving his ability to capture naturalistic effects. The artist was well read in the subject of meteorology, which underwent great advances in his day. On the back of this study he has scientifically noted 'August 1821 / 5 o clock afternoon: very fine / bright & wind after rain slightly / in the morning'. In other works his skies have a more symbolic meaning: they often consciously reflect the artist's state of mind. James Blair bequest 1917.176