Life and letters of John Constable, R. A (1896) (14592740750)

Identifier: lifelettersofjoh00lesl (find matches)
Title: Life and letters of John Constable, R. A
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Leslie, Charles Robert, 1794-1859
Subjects: Contable, John, 1776-1837 Artists
Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive



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ther of every day are altogethersuggested by it. The difficulty of skies in painting is very great,both as to composition and execution ; because, with all theirbrilliancy, they ought not to come forward, or, indeed, be hardlythought of any more than extreme distances are; but this doesnot apply to phenomena or accidental effects of sky, because theyalways attract particularly. I may say all this to you, though jyowdo not want to be told that I know very well what I am about,and that my skies have not been neglected, though they haveoften failed in execution, no doubt, from an over-anxiety aboutthem which will alone destroy that easy appearance whichnature always has in all her movements. How much I wish I had been with you on your fishing excur-sion in the New Forest! What river can it be ? But the sound ofwater, escaping from mill-dams, etc., willows, old rotten planks,slimy posts, and brickwork, I love such things. Shakespearecould make everything poetical; he tells us of poor Toms
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1821,) BANKS OF THE STOUR- 105 haunts among sheep cotes and mills. As long as I do paint, Ishall never cease to paint such places.* They have always beenmy delight, and I should indeed have been delighted in seeingwhat you describe, and in your company, in the company of aman to whom nature does not spread her volume in vain. StillI should paint my own places best; painting is with me butanother word for feeling, and I associate my careless boyhood with all that lies on the banks of the Stour. Those scenes mademe a painter, and I am grateful; that is, I had often thought ofpictures of them before I ever touched a pencil, and your pictureis the strongest instance of it I can recollect; but I will say nomore, for I am a great egotist in whatever relates to painting.Does not the cathedral look beautiful among the golden foliage ?Its solitary grey must sparkle in it. Close, Salisbury, October 2\th. My dear Constable,—I had a most agreeable breakfastthis morning, your letter serving me i