Artwork
Cattle near the edge of the wood
Cattle near the edge of the wood is a paint painting by the Romanticist artist John Constable. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1802 watercolour painting by John Constable features a serene landscape with cattle at the edge of a wooded hillside, characterized by earthy tones and expressive brushwork.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tranquil moment with cows in a natural setting, reflecting Constable's early focus on landscape. The composition's emphasis on the interplay between light, trees, and animals conveys a sense of peaceful coexistence.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the work showcases Constable's use of thick, rough brushstrokes for the trees, creating a sense of wildness, while softer, blurred forms depict the cows, emphasizing their quiet presence.
History & Provenance
Created in 1802, this painting predates Constable's 1805 Royal Academy exhibition piece A Landscape: Moonlight, and the same year's documented visit to Farington, where he received a commission for an altarpiece, unrelated to this work.
Context
This piece aligns with early 19th-century Romanticism's emphasis on nature's emotional resonance, though its subdued tone suggests a more restrained expression of the movement's themes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for revolutionising the genre of landscape painting with his pictures of Dedham Vale, the area on the…
- Cows grazing, Salisbury
An Extensive View in Shropshire
River scene with a temple or palace in the clouds
Untitled
Landscape with hermit
Bangor Cathedral : Penmaenmawr in the distance
A country road with elm trees
Untitled
Stowe: a church in the distance, seen amid trees
Landscape
Distant View of Windsor
Two sketches on one sheet: a countryman walking, and a group of people beside two donkeys.