1816
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Coast scene near Osmington, with Portland Island in the distance is a 1816 watercolor by John Constable, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a rocky beach with a small boat beached on the shore. The waves lap against the stones, and a flagpole stands alone on the left. In the distance, a low island floats in the calm water, while dark clouds gather overhead. The artist used loose, sketchy strokes to capture light and shadow quickly—almost like a quick note of what they saw. The sky looks dramatic, but the water stays quiet. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists like this one used nature to show big feelings.
A pencil and watercolour drawing by Constable from 1816 depicts a coastal scene featuring a boat, with Portland Island visible in the background. The work was created during a period of personal transition for the artist, following his marriage in October of that year. Earlier in the summer, Constable had spent time in Suffolk and visited Wivenhoe, while his father’s death occurred in May. Part of the honeymoon was spent at Osmington, Dorsetshire, where the drawing was likely made.
Read the full account in the museum source.
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
